CVE-2002-1242 in PHP-Nuke
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in PHP-Nuke before 6.0 allows remote authenticated users to modify the database and gain privileges via the "bio" argument to modules.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1242 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PHP-Nuke content management system prior to version 6.0. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of user input through the "bio" parameter in the modules.php script, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database operations. The vulnerability exists in the authentication context, meaning that an attacker must already possess valid user credentials to exploit this weakness, though the impact remains severe given the privileges that can be gained.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the PHP-Nuke framework's processing of the bio argument. When authenticated users submit data through the bio field, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as SQL commands. This allows an attacker to craft malicious input that gets directly incorporated into database queries without proper sanitization, enabling arbitrary SQL command execution. The flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is embedded into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems running affected PHP-Nuke versions. An authenticated attacker can leverage this weakness to modify database contents, potentially gaining elevated privileges within the application's user management system. The impact extends beyond simple data manipulation to include potential privilege escalation, data theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive user information. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to create new administrative accounts, modify existing user permissions, or extract confidential data from the database. The attack vector requires minimal complexity since the attacker already possesses valid credentials, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where user accounts are not adequately monitored.
The security implications of CVE-2002-1242 align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning, as the exploitation requires legitimate user credentials while potentially expanding access privileges. Organizations running vulnerable PHP-Nuke installations face substantial risk of data compromise and system infiltration. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper database query construction in web applications. Security best practices recommend immediate patching to PHP-Nuke version 6.0 or later, implementing proper parameterized queries, and establishing robust input sanitization measures. Additional mitigations include monitoring user account activities for suspicious bio field modifications, implementing network segmentation, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy web applications. The flaw underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date software versions and following secure coding practices to prevent such injection vulnerabilities that can fundamentally compromise application security and data integrity.