CVE-2001-0848 in Fuse Talk
Summary
by MITRE
join.cfm in e-Zone Media Fuse Talk allows a local user to execute arbitrary SQL code via a semi-colon (;) in a form variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0848 resides within the join.cfm component of e-Zone Media Fuse Talk, a web application designed for community interaction and user management. This particular flaw represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability that arises from improper input validation and sanitization within the application's form processing logic. The vulnerability specifically manifests when a local user submits form data containing a semicolon character, which serves as a delimiter in SQL syntax and enables attackers to inject malicious SQL commands into the application's database queries.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter special characters in user-supplied input before incorporating them into SQL queries. When the semicolon character is processed, it allows an attacker to terminate the intended SQL statement and append additional malicious commands. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation issue indicates that an attacker must already have access to the system to exploit it, though this does not diminish the severity of the potential impact.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or manipulation, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database system. This could enable unauthorized access to sensitive user information, modification of database records, or even complete database compromise. The local nature of the attack suggests that the vulnerability may be more easily exploited in environments where local access is possible, potentially through compromised user accounts or system-level access. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges, access confidential information, or establish persistent backdoors within the application's database infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0848 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms throughout the application's data processing pipeline. The most effective approach involves using parameterized queries or prepared statements, which separate SQL command structure from user input data, thereby preventing malicious input from being interpreted as SQL code. Additionally, implementing proper input filtering to escape or remove special characters such as semicolons, single quotes, and other SQL metacharacters can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can monitor for suspicious SQL injection patterns. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation highlights the need for comprehensive network monitoring and application security controls. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, while implementing proper access controls and least privilege principles can help limit the potential damage from local exploitation attempts.