CVE-2001-1460 in PostNuke
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in article.php in PostNuke 0.62 through 0.64 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via the user parameter.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1460 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the PostNuke content management system versions 0.62 through 0.64. This vulnerability specifically targets the article.php script and exploits a weakness in how the system processes the user parameter, allowing malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql commands.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the user parameter in the article.php script. The system does not adequately sanitize this input, enabling attackers to inject sql commands that can manipulate the underlying database. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of sql injection, which is classified as a common weakness in web applications. The attack vector allows for authentication bypass since the malicious sql queries can potentially retrieve user credentials or manipulate user account information directly within the database layer.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to PostNuke installations as it enables unauthorized access to the system without proper authentication. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain administrative privileges, modify content, access sensitive user data, or even escalate their privileges within the system. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application, as unauthorized users can bypass authentication mechanisms entirely. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security controls and demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass to potentially compromise the entire web application infrastructure. Successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, content tampering, and unauthorized system modifications. Organizations using affected PostNuke versions should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper output encoding. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in web application development. Security measures should include implementing web application firewalls, conducting regular security assessments, and ensuring all software components are kept up to date with the latest security patches. Organizations should also consider implementing database access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in the owasp top ten and nist cybersecurity frameworks.