CVE-2005-0475 in paFAQ
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in paFAQ Beta4, and possibly other versions, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL code via the (1) offset, (2) limit, (3) order, or (4) orderby parameter to question.php, (5) offset parameter to answer.php, (6) search_item parameter to search.php, (7) cat_id, (8) cid, or (9) id parameter to comment.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0475 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting paFAQ Beta4 and potentially other versions of the application. This vulnerability resides within the web application's handling of user-supplied input parameters that are directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. The affected parameters span multiple script files including question.php, answer.php, search.php, and comment.php, indicating a systemic issue in the application's input validation and query building mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of specific HTTP parameters that are processed by the application's backend database interface. Attackers can inject malicious SQL code through the offset, limit, order, orderby, search_item, cat_id, cid, and id parameters, which are all processed in ways that concatenate user input directly into SQL statements. This flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into SQL commands. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that multiple entry points exist within the application, providing attackers with several potential vectors for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for affected systems. Remote attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially leading to complete database compromise, data exfiltration, modification of sensitive information, or even system takeover. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, escalate privileges, and access confidential data that may include user credentials, personal information, or business-critical data. This represents a direct violation of data confidentiality and integrity principles as outlined in the CIA triad, and could result in significant financial and reputational damage to organizations utilizing vulnerable versions of paFAQ.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. The most effective remediation involves replacing direct string concatenation of user input with prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL command structure from data values. Organizations should also implement proper input sanitization techniques, including whitelisting acceptable parameter values and implementing proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation rules at the network level can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the use of SQL injection to gain unauthorized access to databases and execute arbitrary commands. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on database interaction patterns should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack.