CVE-2005-0284 in Burning Book
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in addentry.php in Woltlab Burning Book 1.0 Gold, 1.1.1e, and possibly other versions, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the user-agent parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0284 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Woltlab Burning Book content management system versions 1.0 Gold through 1.1.1e. This vulnerability specifically affects the addentry.php script which processes user input without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The attack vector utilizes the user-agent HTTP header parameter, which is commonly sent by web browsers and other HTTP clients during requests to web servers. This particular weakness demonstrates how seemingly innocuous user agent strings can become dangerous when processed unsafely by web applications, particularly in legacy systems that were not designed with modern security practices in mind.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input handling within the addentry.php script where user-supplied data from the user-agent header is directly incorporated into sql queries without appropriate escaping or parameterization. This flaw aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities and represents a classic example of how insecure data handling can lead to complete system compromise. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious user-agent strings that contain sql payload commands, which when processed by the vulnerable application, get executed against the underlying database. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely through standard web browser interactions, making it accessible to any attacker with basic knowledge of sql injection techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using affected Woltlab Burning Book versions as it allows remote code execution and complete database compromise. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system takeover, data corruption, and service disruption. Security analysts should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper data sanitization even for headers that are typically considered benign. The attack can result in unauthorized access to sensitive user data, modification of content, and potential backdoor establishment within the target environment. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications that handle user-generated content, as it provides attackers with direct database access that could be used to manipulate or extract valuable information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0284 should include immediate patching of affected Woltlab Burning Book installations to the latest available versions that address this sql injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures for all user-supplied data, including http headers, and employ parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential sql injection points within their applications and ensure that all web applications follow secure coding practices. The remediation process should include monitoring for exploitation attempts and implementing proper access controls to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing proper security controls to prevent unauthorized database access.