CVE-2023-46042
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in GetSimpleCMS v3.4.0a allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted payload to phpinfo(). Attackers can achieve remote code execution (RCE) on affected systems, potentially taking full control. Anyone running GetSimpleCMS v3.4.0a is affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- GetSimpleCMS
📦 What is this software?
Getsimplecms by Get Simple
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with attacker gaining full control over the web server, data exfiltration, installation of persistent backdoors, and lateral movement to other systems.
Likely Case
Remote code execution leading to website defacement, data theft, cryptocurrency mining, or ransomware deployment.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper network segmentation, web application firewalls, and least privilege configurations preventing lateral movement.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation appears straightforward based on the CWE-94 (Code Injection) classification and public references.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Unknown
Vendor Advisory: Not available
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
No official patch available. Consider upgrading to a newer version if one exists, or apply workarounds.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable phpinfo() Function
allRemove or restrict access to phpinfo() to prevent exploitation.
Edit PHP configuration to disable phpinfo() via disable_functions in php.ini: disable_functions = phpinfo
Web Application Firewall (WAF) Rules
allBlock requests containing suspicious phpinfo() parameters or payloads.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate the affected system in a segmented network to limit lateral movement.
- Implement strict input validation and sanitization for all user inputs.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if running GetSimpleCMS v3.4.0a by reviewing the CMS version in admin panel or source code.Check Version:
Check the CMS version via admin interface or by examining the installation files.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify that phpinfo() is disabled or inaccessible, and test for RCE attempts.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to phpinfo endpoints
- Log entries showing code execution attempts
- Unexpected file writes or modifications
Network Indicators:
- Suspicious HTTP requests with crafted payloads
- Outbound connections to unknown IPs post-exploit
SIEM Query:
Example: search for 'phpinfo' in web server logs combined with suspicious parameters.