CVE-2004-2158 in Serendipity
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Serendipity 0.7-beta1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the entry_id parameter to (1) exit.php or (2) comment.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2158 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Serendipity blogging platform version 0.7-beta1. This security weakness exists in two distinct file endpoints: exit.php and comment.php, both of which process the entry_id parameter without proper input sanitization. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL command strings without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. The affected application fails to implement proper parameterized queries or input filtering, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database operations through crafted HTTP requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers submit maliciously formatted entry_id values to either exit.php or comment.php endpoints. These parameters are directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute within the database context. The flaw enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, deletion, or even privilege escalation depending on the database user permissions. This type of injection vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1071.005 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers typically discover such vulnerabilities through systematic testing of web application parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can result in complete database compromise, leading to potential data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized access to user information. Attackers could extract sensitive user credentials, personal information, or blog content, while also potentially gaining the ability to modify or delete blog entries and comments. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire Serendipity installation, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on this platform for content management. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these endpoints are commonly accessed during normal user interactions, making the vulnerability difficult to detect and exploit with minimal attention from system administrators.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2158 should prioritize immediate patching of the Serendipity platform to version 0.7 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries for all database interactions, ensuring that user-supplied parameters are never directly concatenated into SQL statements. The implementation of web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can provide additional protection layers against such attacks. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual parameter patterns and database access patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in other applications. The remediation efforts should follow established security frameworks such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure coding practices, specifically addressing the prevention of SQL injection through proper input sanitization and database access controls.