CVE-2002-1760 in PHProjekt
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in PHProjekt 2.0 through 3.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the unknown attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1760 represents a critical security flaw in PHProjekt versions 2.0 through 3.1 that enables remote attackers to perform SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The affected PHProjekt versions suffer from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The attack vectors remain unspecified in the original CVE description, which indicates that the vulnerability may manifest through multiple entry points within the application's codebase, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit various pathways to achieve their objectives. The vulnerability allows threat actors to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database system, potentially leading to complete database compromise and unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper parameterized queries or input sanitization techniques when processing user inputs. PHProjekt's database interaction code appears to concatenate user-supplied parameters directly into SQL statements without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. This design flaw creates an environment where malicious actors can inject specially crafted SQL payloads through various application interfaces, including form fields, URL parameters, or API endpoints. The lack of specific attack vector details in the original description suggests that multiple input points within the application may be vulnerable, increasing the attack surface and making the vulnerability particularly challenging to remediate completely. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that exploitation can occur without requiring physical access to the system, making it accessible to attackers anywhere on the internet.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate, modify, or delete database records at will. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, allowing threat actors to extract sensitive information, modify user credentials, or even escalate their privileges within the application. The vulnerability's potential for causing widespread damage is amplified by the fact that PHProjekt is typically used for project management and collaboration, meaning that compromised databases could contain sensitive business information, user data, and project-related materials. Organizations using affected versions of PHProjekt face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences. The vulnerability also poses a risk to the broader network infrastructure if the database server is not properly isolated or if the compromised application has elevated privileges within the system. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability as a foothold for further attacks within the network, potentially leading to more severe security incidents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1760 must focus on immediate remediation efforts including upgrading to a patched version of PHProjekt, as the vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application codebase to prevent SQL injection attacks. The implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements should be mandatory for all database interactions, following the principle of least privilege for database accounts used by the application. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense, though these should not be considered replacements for proper code-level fixes. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability's age and the availability of patches make this a high-priority remediation item for any organization still running affected versions of PHProjekt, as the risk of exploitation remains constant while the attack surface continues to expand with the evolution of attack tooling and techniques.