CVE-2004-2354 in PHP-Nuke
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in 4nGuestbook 0.92 for PHP-Nuke 6.5 through 6.9 allows remote attackers to modify SQL statements via the entry parameter to modules.php, which can also facilitate cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks when MySQL errors are triggered.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2354 represents a critical security flaw in 4nGuestbook version 0.92, which is a guestbook module designed for PHP-Nuke 6.5 through 6.9 platforms. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's processing of user-supplied data. The vulnerability specifically affects the entry parameter in the modules.php file, which serves as the primary interface for handling guestbook entries and user interactions. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious SQL queries through the entry parameter, thereby manipulating the underlying database operations. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly escape or filter user input before incorporating it into SQL statements, creating an environment where unauthorized database modifications become possible.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a common weakness in web applications. When attackers manipulate the entry parameter, they can inject malicious SQL code that bypasses normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway involves sending specially crafted payloads through the web interface that get directly embedded into SQL queries without proper sanitization. This creates opportunities for attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the database layer, where successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the application's data integrity and availability.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2354 extends beyond simple data manipulation to include potential cross-site scripting vulnerabilities when MySQL errors are triggered. This dual nature of the exploit creates additional attack vectors where attackers can leverage the SQL injection to also execute malicious scripts in users' browsers. The combination of SQL injection and XSS vulnerabilities significantly amplifies the threat surface, as attackers can not only compromise database integrity but also potentially hijack user sessions or deface the web application. The affected PHP-Nuke versions 6.5 through 6.9 represent a substantial user base that would be vulnerable to this attack, making the exploitation potential particularly widespread. When MySQL errors occur due to malformed SQL injection attempts, the error messages can inadvertently contain sensitive information that helps attackers refine their attacks or directly execute malicious scripts through browser-based XSS vectors.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1213.002 for data from information repositories. Attackers typically begin by identifying the vulnerable parameter through reconnaissance activities, then craft payloads that either directly manipulate database structures or trigger error conditions that expose additional attack surfaces. The vulnerability's persistence is enhanced by the fact that it affects widely deployed PHP-Nuke versions, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools. Security practitioners must understand that this vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient input validation, where user-controlled data flows directly into database operations without proper sanitization or parameterization. The vulnerability's remediation requires comprehensive input validation, proper parameterized queries, and the implementation of proper error handling mechanisms that do not expose sensitive database information to end users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2354 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization at multiple layers of the application architecture. The most effective approach involves replacing direct SQL query construction with parameterized queries or prepared statements, which ensure that user input is properly separated from SQL command structures. Additionally, implementing proper error handling that prevents the exposure of database error messages to end users significantly reduces the attack surface. Security measures should include input filtering that removes or escapes potentially dangerous characters, particularly single quotes, semicolons, and other SQL metacharacters. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns. The remediation process requires thorough code review and testing to ensure that all user input parameters are properly sanitized before database interaction, with particular attention to the modules.php file and its entry parameter handling. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues in other application components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of addressing input validation weaknesses across the entire application stack.