CVE-2004-2042 in e107
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in e107 0.615 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary SQL code and gain sensitive information via (1) content parameter to content.php, (2) content_id parameter to content.php, or (3) list parameter to news.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2042 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting the e107 content management system version 0.615. This vulnerability resides within the web application's database interaction mechanisms and allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. The flaw manifests through three distinct attack vectors that target different PHP scripts within the e107 framework, specifically content.php and news.php, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through multiple entry points.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the e107 application's parameter handling. When users submit data through the content parameter in content.php, the content_id parameter in the same file, or the list parameter in news.php, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs before incorporating them into SQL queries. This omission creates a direct pathway for attackers to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed by the database server. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted data is directly included in SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization. The attack occurs at the application layer where user-supplied data flows into database queries without adequate security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2042 is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the database. Successful exploitation could result in data theft, data manipulation, privilege escalation, and in worst-case scenarios, complete system compromise. Attackers could extract user credentials, personal information, configuration details, and other sensitive data from the database. The vulnerability's exposure through multiple parameters increases the attack surface and makes exploitation more likely, as attackers can choose the most effective vector based on their specific target environment. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005, which describes application layer protocol manipulation, and T1046, representing network service discovery, as attackers may use these vulnerabilities to map and exploit database services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2042 must address the fundamental input validation issues that enable the vulnerability. The primary solution involves implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements throughout the application code to ensure that user input cannot be interpreted as SQL commands. Additionally, comprehensive input validation and sanitization should be enforced at all entry points where user data is processed. The e107 development team should implement strict type checking and length validation for all parameters, particularly those used in database queries. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, though this represents a secondary defense mechanism. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to the principle of least privilege in database access, ensuring that application database accounts have minimal necessary permissions to reduce potential impact from successful exploitation. Regular security audits and code reviews should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of flaw demonstrates the critical need for continuous security assessment in web applications.