CVE-2018-25162: 2-Plan Team File Upload RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2018-25162 Overview

CVE-2018-25162 is an arbitrary file upload vulnerability affecting 2-Plan Team version 1.0.4, a project management application. The vulnerability exists in the managefile.php script, which fails to properly validate file types during the upload process. Authenticated attackers can exploit this flaw to upload executable PHP files by sending malicious multipart form data, ultimately achieving remote code execution on the target server.

The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass intended security restrictions by uploading PHP files through the userfile1 parameter with action=upload. Once uploaded, these malicious files are stored in the files directory and can be directly executed by the web server, providing attackers with complete control over the compromised system.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can achieve remote code execution by uploading malicious PHP files, potentially leading to complete server compromise, data theft, and lateral movement within the network.

Affected Products

• 2-Plan Team version 1.0.4

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-06 - CVE CVE-2018-25162 published to NVD
• 2026-03-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2018-25162

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type). The managefile.php script in 2-Plan Team 1.0.4 does not implement proper file type validation, allowing authenticated users to upload files with executable extensions such as .php.

When a user submits a file through the multipart form, the application stores it directly in the files directory without checking whether the file extension is dangerous or whether the content matches a safe file type. Since the web server is configured to execute PHP files in this directory, any uploaded PHP script will be executed when accessed via a direct HTTP request.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the absence of file type validation in the managefile.php upload handler. The application accepts the userfile1 parameter and processes it with action=upload without implementing:

• File extension whitelisting or blacklisting
• MIME type validation
• Content inspection to verify the actual file type
• Storage of uploaded files outside the web root or in a non-executable directory

This design flaw allows attackers to bypass any client-side restrictions and upload arbitrary executable code to the server.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires low-privilege authentication to the 2-Plan Team application. Once authenticated, an attacker can craft a malicious HTTP POST request to managefile.php containing a PHP webshell or other malicious code as the userfile1 parameter. The attack flow is as follows:

1. Attacker authenticates to the 2-Plan Team application with valid credentials
2. Attacker crafts a multipart form POST request to managefile.php with action=upload
3. The malicious PHP file is uploaded via the userfile1 parameter
4. The server stores the file in the files directory without validation
5. Attacker accesses the uploaded file directly via HTTP to execute the malicious code

For technical details on exploitation, see the Exploit-DB #45878 advisory and the VulnCheck Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2018-25162

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected PHP files appearing in the files directory of the 2-Plan Team installation
• Web server access logs showing requests to PHP files within the files directory
• Multipart POST requests to managefile.php containing PHP file content
• Outbound network connections or suspicious process spawning from the web server process

Detection Strategies

• Monitor HTTP POST requests to managefile.php for file uploads containing PHP code or executable content
• Implement file integrity monitoring on the files directory to detect unauthorized file creation
• Review web server access logs for direct requests to files in upload directories with executable extensions
• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect malicious file upload attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure SIEM alerts for file creation events in web application upload directories
• Enable detailed logging for the 2-Plan Team application to capture file upload activity
• Monitor for webshell indicators such as unusual POST parameters or encoded command strings
• Implement endpoint detection to identify suspicious process execution chains originating from web server processes

How to Mitigate CVE-2018-25162

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to managefile.php or disable file upload functionality if not required
• Implement server-side file type validation to whitelist only safe file extensions (e.g., images, documents)
• Configure the web server to deny execution of PHP files in the files upload directory
• Review existing files in the files directory for any unauthorized PHP scripts and remove them immediately
• Consider upgrading to a newer version of 2-Plan Team if available, or migrate to an actively maintained alternative

Patch Information

No official vendor patch information is available for this vulnerability. Administrators should implement the workarounds described below and consider whether continued use of 2-Plan Team 1.0.4 is appropriate for their security posture.

Additional technical details are available in the VulnCheck Advisory.

Workarounds

• Disable PHP execution in the upload directory by adding appropriate web server configuration
• Implement strict file extension whitelisting at the application level
• Store uploaded files outside the web root directory
• Require re-authentication for file upload operations
• Apply network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromise

# Apache configuration to disable PHP execution in upload directory
# Add to .htaccess in the files directory or virtual host configuration
<Directory "/path/to/2plan/files">
    php_admin_flag engine off
    <FilesMatch "\.php$">
        Deny from all
    </FilesMatch>
</Directory>