CVE-2003-1435 in PHP-Nuke
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in PHP-Nuke 5.6 and 6.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the days parameter to the search module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1435 represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in PHP-Nuke versions 5.6 and 6.0, specifically affecting the search module functionality. This vulnerability resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms and demonstrates a classic pattern of insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The flaw manifests when the application processes the 'days' parameter without proper filtering or escaping, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database operations through crafted input sequences.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the search module's 'days' parameter, which is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization measures. When an attacker submits malicious input containing SQL metacharacters and commands within the days parameter, the application fails to properly escape or validate this input before executing it against the database backend. This allows for arbitrary SQL command execution, potentially enabling attackers to retrieve, modify, or delete sensitive database information. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89 which classifies SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted input is used to construct SQL queries without proper validation or escaping.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could lead to complete database compromise and potential system takeover. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data stored within the PHP-Nuke application's database. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications hosting sensitive information. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 which addresses exploitation of remote services through input validation flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-1435 should prioritize immediate patching of affected PHP-Nuke versions to the latest available releases that contain proper input validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries or prepared statements throughout their application code to prevent direct concatenation of user input into SQL commands. Input validation should include strict type checking, length restrictions, and character set filtering to prevent injection attempts. Additionally, database access should be restricted to minimum necessary privileges for the application, implementing the principle of least privilege to limit potential damage from successful exploitation. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar input validation weaknesses across the entire application stack.