Quantum Secular Labs / Blog / Advisories
CVE-2024-4577: PHP-CGI OS Command Injection Vulnerability
CVE-2024-4577 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and affects PHP Group PHP, along with 1 other product in NVD’s configuration data. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-06-12, which means exploitation in the wild has been observed.
Vulnerability description
In PHP versions 8.1.* before 8.1.29, 8.2.* before 8.2.20, 8.3.* before 8.3.8, when using Apache and PHP-CGI on Windows, if the system is set up to use certain code pages, Windows may use "Best-Fit" behavior to replace characters in command line given to Win32 API functions. PHP CGI module may misinterpret those characters as PHP options, which may allow a malicious user to pass options to PHP binary being run, and thus reveal the source code of scripts, run arbitrary PHP code on the server, etc.
Severity breakdown
CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
- Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
- Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
- User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
- Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
- Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
- Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.
Underlying weakness
CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.
Affected products
- PHP: from 8.1.0 before 8.1.29; from 8.2.0 before 8.2.20; from 8.3.0 before 8.3.8
- Fedoraproject: 39; 40
References
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/pull/19247
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/06/07/1
- https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/06/php-vulnerability-allows-attackers-to-run-malicious-code-on-windows-servers/
- https://blog.orange.tw/2024/06/cve-2024-4577-yet-another-php-rce.html
- https://cert.be/en/advisory/warning-php-remote-code-execution-patch-immediately
- https://devco.re/blog/2024/06/06/security-alert-cve-2024-4577-php-cgi-argument-injection-vulnerability-en/
- https://github.com/php/php-src/security/advisories/GHSA-3qgc-jrrr-25jv
- https://github.com/watchtowrlabs/CVE-2024-4577
- https://github.com/xcanwin/CVE-2024-4577-PHP-RCE
- https://isc.sans.edu/diary/30994
- https://labs.watchtowr.com/no-way-php-strikes-again-cve-2024-4577/
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240621-0008/
- https://www.imperva.com/blog/imperva-protects-against-critical-php-vulnerability-cve-2024-4577/
- https://blog.talosintelligence.com/new-persistent-attacks-japan/