CVE-2005-0617 in PostNuke
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in dl-search.php in PostNuke 0.750 and 0.760-RC2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the show parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0617 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the PostNuke content management system version 0.750 and 0.760-rc2. This security weakness resides in the dl-search.php component which processes user input through the show parameter without adequate sanitization or validation. The vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into sql commands without proper escaping or parameterization. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious sql commands within the show parameter that gets directly executed by the database engine, potentially allowing full database access and arbitrary code execution on the affected server.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input from the show parameter is directly concatenated into sql query strings without proper input validation or parameter binding mechanisms. This allows attackers to inject malicious sql syntax that alters the intended query behavior, potentially enabling them to extract sensitive information, modify database contents, or even execute administrative commands on the database server. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the database level where successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it highly accessible to malicious actors. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1190 - exploit public-facing application, and T1071.004 - application layer protocol, as it targets web application interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential data destruction. Organizations running affected PostNuke versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive user data, including personal information, credentials, and potentially confidential business data stored within the database. The vulnerability also poses a risk of service disruption through data manipulation or deletion attacks, and could enable attackers to establish persistent access through database backdoors. System administrators must consider the broader implications of such a vulnerability on their overall security posture, as it can serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of data stored within the application's database, potentially violating compliance requirements for data protection and privacy regulations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected PostNuke installations to the latest available security updates. Organizations should implement input validation and parameterized queries to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The recommended defense-in-depth approach includes implementing web application firewalls to detect and block sql injection attempts, conducting regular security assessments of web applications, and establishing proper database access controls to limit the impact of successful attacks. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring and logging to detect anomalous sql query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input sanitization and the use of prepared statements or parameterized queries in all database interactions, which aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP top ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Regular security training for developers on secure coding practices remains essential to prevent similar injection vulnerabilities in future application development cycles.