CVE-2002-0216 in Xoops
Summary
by MITRE
userinfo.php in XOOPS 1.0 RC1 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a SQL injection attack in the "uid" parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0216 represents a critical SQL injection flaw in the userinfo.php component of XOOPS version 1.0 Release Candidate 1. This content management system, widely used for web publishing and community platforms, contained a significant security weakness that allowed malicious actors to extract sensitive information from the underlying database through improper input validation. The vulnerability specifically targeted the "uid" parameter, which serves as a user identifier in the system's user information retrieval mechanism. When an attacker submitted a malformed uid value, the application failed to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into SQL query construction, creating an exploitable condition that could be leveraged for unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a serious weakness in application security where untrusted data is directly included in SQL commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The flaw occurred because the XOOPS application did not employ parameterized queries or adequate input sanitization for the uid parameter, allowing attackers to manipulate the SQL execution flow. This type of injection attack typically enables adversaries to extract database contents, modify data, or even execute administrative commands depending on the database privileges and the specific implementation details. The vulnerability existed in the userinfo.php script which was responsible for displaying user profile information, making it a prime target for information gathering attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within the compromised system. Attackers could leverage the SQL injection to access user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data stored in the database. The attack vector required minimal technical expertise, as the vulnerability was accessible through standard web interface interactions without requiring special tools or complex exploitation techniques. This made the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited by attackers with varying skill levels, increasing the potential attack surface and impact. The vulnerability was especially concerning for XOOPS installations that contained sensitive user data, as it provided a direct path to unauthorized database access and data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0216 should have focused on immediate patching of the vulnerable XOOPS version, implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, and adopting parameterized queries or prepared statements for database interactions. Organizations should have also implemented web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, conducted thorough security assessments of their XOOPS installations, and established proper database access controls to limit the potential damage from such vulnerabilities. The incident highlighted the importance of input validation and proper database query construction practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer attacks and emphasizing the need for secure coding practices throughout the software development lifecycle. Organizations should have also implemented monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect suspicious database access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.