CVE-2004-2212 in Alivesites
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in forum.asp in AliveSites Forums 2.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the forum_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2212 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the AliveSites Forums 2.0 web application, specifically affecting the forum.asp component. This issue arises from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database query constructions. The vulnerability manifests through the forum_id parameter which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject unauthorized SQL commands directly into the application's backend database operations.
This SQL injection vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the underlying database query logic by injecting malicious SQL syntax through the forum_id parameter. When the application processes this parameter without proper sanitization, the injected commands become executable within the database context, potentially allowing full database access and control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data manipulation, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the affected system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from the database, modify or delete records, create new database users with elevated privileges, or even escalate their access to the underlying operating system. The remote nature of this attack vector means that malicious actors do not require physical access to the system or local network connectivity to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
The security implications of CVE-2004-2212 align with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1071.004 technique for Application Layer Protocol: Structured Query Language, where adversaries exploit application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized database access. The vulnerability particularly affects the T1083 technique for File and Directory Discovery as attackers may use the SQL injection to enumerate database structures and identify sensitive data repositories. Organizations running AliveSites Forums 2.0 are at significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential compliance violations when this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. The most effective remediation involves implementing proper input sanitization measures that filter or escape special SQL characters and symbols from user-supplied parameters. Database administrators should also implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring that application database accounts have minimal required permissions to reduce the potential impact of successful attacks. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other application components, while implementing web application firewalls can provide additional protective layers against such attacks.