CVE-2002-2304 in Myphplinks
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in admin/auth/checksession.php in MyPHPLinks 2.1.9 and 2.2.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the idsession parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2304 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the MyPHPLinks content management system version 2.1.9 and 2.2.0. This security weakness resides in the administrative authentication component, specifically in the checksession.php file that handles session validation processes. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into SQL database queries, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database operations through crafted input parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the idsession parameter which is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization measures. When a remote attacker submits malicious SQL commands through this parameter, the application directly incorporates these commands into database queries without proper escaping or parameterization. This design flaw falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, where untrusted data is concatenated into SQL command strings without proper protection mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input sanitization practices that violates fundamental secure coding principles and creates an attack surface that enables complete database compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the affected system. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to sensitive administrative information, data modification or deletion, user account compromise, and potentially full system control. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, create backdoor accounts, extract confidential information such as user credentials, or even modify the application's core functionality. The remote nature of this attack vector means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications handling sensitive data.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of MyPHPLinks should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper output encoding to prevent SQL injection attacks. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input sanitization techniques that escape special characters and validate parameter types before database interaction. Security measures should include implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input cannot alter the intended structure of SQL commands. Additionally, access controls should be strengthened through proper authentication mechanisms, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of adhering to the principle of least privilege and implementing proper database access controls to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application, emphasizing the need for comprehensive network security measures including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to prevent exploitation.