CWE-624 Detail

CWE-624

Executable Regular Expression Error
Incomplete
2007-05-07
00h00 +00:00
2023-06-29
00h00 +00:00
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Name: Executable Regular Expression Error

The product uses a regular expression that either (1) contains an executable component with user-controlled inputs, or (2) allows a user to enable execution by inserting pattern modifiers.

CWE Description

Case (2) is possible in the PHP preg_replace() function, and possibly in other languages when a user-controlled input is inserted into a string that is later parsed as a regular expression.

General Informations

Modes Of Introduction

Implementation

Applicable Platforms

Language

Name: PHP (Undetermined)
Name: Perl (Undetermined)

Common Consequences

Scope Impact Likelihood
Confidentiality
Integrity
Availability		Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands

Observed Examples

References Description

CVE-2006-2059

Executable regexp in PHP by inserting "e" modifier into first argument to preg_replace

CVE-2005-3420

Executable regexp in PHP by inserting "e" modifier into first argument to preg_replace

CVE-2006-2878

Complex curly syntax inserted into the replacement argument to PHP preg_replace(), which uses the "/e" modifier

CVE-2006-2908

Function allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via the username field, which is used in a preg_replace function call with a /e (executable) modifier.

Potential Mitigations

Phases : Implementation
The regular expression feature in some languages allows inputs to be quoted or escaped before insertion, such as \Q and \E in Perl.

Vulnerability Mapping Notes

Justification : This CWE entry is at the Base level of abstraction, which is a preferred level of abstraction for mapping to the root causes of vulnerabilities.
Comment : Carefully read both the name and description to ensure that this mapping is an appropriate fit. Do not try to 'force' a mapping to a lower-level Base/Variant simply to comply with this preferred level of abstraction.

NotesNotes

Under-studied. The existing PHP reports are limited to highly skilled researchers, but there are few examples for other languages. It is suspected that this is under-reported for all languages. Usability factors might make it more prevalent in PHP, but this theory has not been investigated.

Submission

Name Organization Date Date release Version
CWE Content Team MITRE 2007-05-07 +00:00 2007-05-07 +00:00 Draft 6

Modifications

Name Organization Date Comment
Eric Dalci Cigital 2008-07-01 +00:00 updated Time_of_Introduction
CWE Content Team MITRE 2008-09-08 +00:00 updated Applicable_Platforms, Relationships, Observed_Example
CWE Content Team MITRE 2008-10-14 +00:00 updated Description
CWE Content Team MITRE 2011-06-01 +00:00 updated Common_Consequences
CWE Content Team MITRE 2012-05-11 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2012-10-30 +00:00 updated Potential_Mitigations
CWE Content Team MITRE 2014-06-23 +00:00 updated Observed_Examples
CWE Content Team MITRE 2014-07-30 +00:00 updated Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
CWE Content Team MITRE 2017-11-08 +00:00 updated Observed_Examples
CWE Content Team MITRE 2020-02-24 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2020-08-20 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2020-12-10 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-04-27 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-06-29 +00:00 updated Mapping_Notes