#VU110320 Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls in PHP - CVE-2009-3558

Vulnerability identifier: #VU110320

Vulnerability risk: Medium

CVSSv4.0: 2.7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Green]

CVE-ID: CVE-2009-3558

CWE-ID: CWE-264

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
PHP
Universal components / Libraries / Scripting languages

Vendor: PHP Group

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote non-authenticated attacker to read and manipulate data.

The posix_mkfifo function in ext/posix/posix.c in PHP before 5.2.12 and 5.3.x before 5.3.1 allows context-dependent attackers to bypass open_basedir restrictions, and create FIFO files, via the pathname and mode arguments, as demonstrated by creating a .htaccess file. Access Complexity selected medium according to the information from X-force link regarding enabling "open_basedir" option. http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/53568

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

PHP: 1.0, 2.0, 2.0b10, 3.0, 3.0.1, 3.0.2, 3.0.3, 3.0.4, 3.0.5, 3.0.6, 3.0.7, 3.0.8, 3.0.9, 3.0.10, 3.0.11, 3.0.12, 3.0.13, 3.0.14, 3.0.15, 3.0.16, 3.0.17, 3.0.18, 4.0.0, 4.0.1, 4.0.2, 4.0.3, 4.0.4, 4.0.5, 4.0.6, 4.0.7, 4.1, 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 4.3, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.7, 4.3.10, 4.3.11, 4.4.2, 4.4.7, 4.4.8, 4.4.9, 5.0.0, 5.0.3, 5.1.1, 5.2.1, 5.2.5, 5.2.6, 5.3

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External links
https://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2010//Mar/msg00001.html
https://news.php.net/php.announce/79
https://secunia.com/advisories/37412
https://secunia.com/advisories/37821
https://securityreason.com/securityalert/6600
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077
https://svn.php.net/viewvc/php/php-src/branches/PHP_5_2/ext/posix/posix.c?view=log
https://svn.php.net/viewvc/php/php-src/branches/PHP_5_3/ext/posix/posix.c?view=log
https://svn.php.net/viewvc?view=revision&revision=288943
https://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:285
https://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:302
https://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:303
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/11/20/2
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/11/20/3
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/11/20/5
https://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php
https://www.php.net/releases/5_2_12.php
https://www.php.net/releases/5_3_1.php
https://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/3593

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.