CVE-2004-1929 in PHP-Nuke
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the bblogin function in functions.php in PHP-Nuke 6.x through 7.2 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain access by injecting base64-encoded SQL code into the user parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1929 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PHP-Nuke content management system affecting versions 6.x through 7.2. This vulnerability specifically targets the bblogin function located in the functions.php file, which serves as a core authentication mechanism for the platform. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-provided data, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database queries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the authentication layer, allowing attackers to bypass legitimate user authentication processes and gain unauthorized access to protected system resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a base64-encoded SQL payload through the user parameter of the bblogin function. This approach demonstrates sophisticated evasion techniques that leverage encoding to bypass basic input filters that might be in place. The base64 encoding serves as a means to obfuscate the malicious SQL code, making it less obvious to simple security monitoring systems while maintaining the payload's functionality. When the application processes this encoded input without proper decoding and sanitization, the SQL injection occurs at the database level, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands and manipulate the database contents directly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and potentially gain full administrative control over the affected PHP-Nuke installation. The authentication bypass capability means that attackers can access restricted areas of the application, modify user accounts, delete content, and potentially compromise the entire system infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a classic example of how inadequate input validation can lead to severe security consequences. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as it allows attackers to leverage legitimate authentication mechanisms through malicious input manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms throughout the application code. The most effective approach involves implementing parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks from occurring regardless of input content. Additionally, all user inputs must be properly escaped and validated before processing, with strict type checking and length limitations applied to prevent malicious payloads from being executed. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and monitoring systems to detect unusual authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the necessity of following secure coding practices as outlined in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure software development. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy systems, as PHP-Nuke versions affected by this vulnerability have been deprecated and no longer receive security updates, making them particularly susceptible to exploitation.