CVE-2004-2751 in PostNuke
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the members_list module in PostNuke 0.726, and possibly earlier, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the sortby parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2751 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the members_list module of PostNuke version 0.726 and potentially earlier releases. This vulnerability resides in the way the application processes user input through the sortby parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database queries and execute unauthorized commands. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and sanitization that has been a persistent challenge in web application security since the early days of internet-based content management systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious sortby parameter value that gets directly incorporated into sql queries without proper escaping or parameterization. This allows the attacker to inject additional sql commands that are then executed by the database engine with the privileges of the web application's database user. The vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities, and it aligns with the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1190 - exploit public-facing application, where adversaries target web applications for data manipulation and unauthorized access. The impact extends beyond simple data retrieval as attackers can potentially modify, delete, or extract sensitive information from the underlying database.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, personal information, and system data stored within the PostNuke database. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire system as it allows for potential privilege escalation and persistent access to the application's backend. Additionally, the impact extends to the availability of services as attackers can potentially disrupt database operations or cause system instability through malicious sql commands. Organizations running affected PostNuke installations face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences due to unauthorized data access and manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2751 require immediate action to address the root cause through proper input validation and parameterized queries. The most effective approach involves implementing proper sanitization of all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like sortby that are directly used in database operations. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade to PostNuke versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the original version 0.726 and likely earlier versions contain no built-in protection against such attacks. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious sql injection patterns, employ prepared statements or parameterized queries throughout the application code, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The remediation process must include thorough code reviews to ensure that all database interactions properly validate and sanitize input parameters, aligning with the security best practices outlined in standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.