Kingdom: Environment

This section includes everything that is outside of the source code but is still critical to the security of the product that is being created. Because the issues covered by this kingdom are not directly related to source code, we separated it from the rest of the kingdoms.

PHP Misconfiguration: safe_mode Disabled

Abstract

Allowing PHP scripts to access arbitrary files on the server can permit attackers to manipulate sensitive files or execute malicious commands.

Explanation

The safe_mode option is one of the most important security features in PHP. When safe_mode is disabled, PHP operates on files with the permissions of the user that invoked it, which is often a privileged user. Although configuring PHP with safe_mode disabled does not introduce a security vulnerability itself, this added leniency can be exploited by attackers in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to make exploits more dangerous.

References

[1] M. Achour et al. PHP Manual

[2] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration CWE ID 552

[3] Standards Mapping - DISA Control Correlation Identifier Version 2 CCI-000381, CCI-002233, CCI-002235

[4] Standards Mapping - FIPS200 CM

[5] Standards Mapping - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Indirect Access to Sensitive Data

[6] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 4 AC-6 Least Privilege (P1), CM-7 Least Functionality (P1)

[7] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 AC-6 Least Privilege, CM-7 Least Functionality

[8] Standards Mapping - OWASP API 2023 API8 Security Misconfiguration

[9] Standards Mapping - OWASP Application Security Verification Standard 4.0 1.12.1 Secure File Upload Architectural Requirements (L2 L3), 12.5.1 File Download Requirements (L1 L2 L3)

[10] Standards Mapping - OWASP Mobile 2014 M5 Poor Authorization and Authentication

[11] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2004 A10 Insecure Configuration Management

[12] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2010 A6 Security Misconfiguration

[13] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2013 A5 Security Misconfiguration

[14] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2017 A6 Security Misconfiguration

[15] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2021 A05 Security Misconfiguration

[16] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.1 Requirement 6.5.10

[17] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.0 Requirement 6.5.8

[18] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.1 Requirement 6.5.8

[19] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2 Requirement 6.5.8

[20] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2.1 Requirement 6.5.8

[21] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 4.0 Requirement 6.2.4

[22] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 4.0.1 Requirement 6.2.4

[23] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.0 Control Objective 5.4 - Authentication and Access Control

[24] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.1 Control Objective 5.4 - Authentication and Access Control

[25] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.2 Control Objective 5.4 - Authentication and Access Control, Control Objective C.2.3 - Web Software Access Controls

[26] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.2 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[27] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.3 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[28] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.4 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[29] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.5 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[30] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.6 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[31] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.7 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[32] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.8 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[33] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.9 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[34] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.10 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[35] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.11 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[36] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.1 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[37] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.1 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[38] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.2 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[39] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.3 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[40] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 6.1 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[41] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 6.2 APSC-DV-000500 CAT II, APSC-DV-000510 CAT I, APSC-DV-001500 CAT II

[42] Standards Mapping - Web Application Security Consortium Version 2.00 Application Misconfiguration (WASC-15)

desc.structural.php.php_misconfiguration_safe_mode