CVE-2004-2066 in LinPHA
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in session.php in LinPHA 0.9.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL code and bypass authentication via the (1) linpha_userid or (2) linpha_password cookies.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2018
The CVE-2004-2066 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in LinPHA version 0.9.4 that fundamentally compromises the application's security posture. This vulnerability specifically targets the session.php component which handles user authentication and session management within the LinPHA content management system. The flaw arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization of cookie values, particularly the linpha_userid and linpha_password cookies that are used to maintain user sessions and authenticate access to protected resources. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the cookie values to inject malicious sql commands that are then executed against the underlying database system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities. This classification indicates that the application fails to properly escape or filter user-controllable input before incorporating it into sql queries. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user-supplied data from http cookies is directly concatenated into sql command strings without appropriate sanitization measures. When an attacker crafts malicious cookie values containing sql payload characters and statements, these inputs are processed by the database engine without proper validation, leading to unauthorized execution of sql commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or manipulation. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary sql commands on the database server, potentially gaining full administrative access to the database contents. This includes the ability to read, modify, or delete sensitive information stored within the application's database, including user credentials, personal data, and application configuration details. Authentication bypass represents the most immediate and dangerous consequence, as attackers can impersonate legitimate users or escalate privileges to administrative accounts. The vulnerability effectively renders the entire authentication system useless, allowing unauthorized access to protected areas of the application without proper credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2066 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. The most effective solution involves updating to a patched version of LinPHA that addresses this specific vulnerability through proper input sanitization and output encoding. Organizations should implement web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious sql injection patterns in cookie values. Additionally, the application should be configured to use prepared statements or parameterized queries whenever database interactions occur, ensuring that user input is never directly concatenated into sql commands. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual cookie value patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security audits should verify that all user inputs are properly validated before database processing. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege when designing database access controls within web applications.