CVE-2005-1567 in DirectTopics
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in topic.php in DirectTopics 2.1 and 2.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the topic parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1567 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the DirectTopics content management system versions 2.1 and 2.2. This security weakness resides in the topic.php script which processes user input without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of the topic parameter, which is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without adequate input filtering. Such a design flaw creates an exploitable pathway where malicious actors can manipulate database operations by injecting specially crafted SQL commands through the topic parameter. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities that occur when untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization. This weakness enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive database information, modify or delete records, and potentially gain full administrative control over the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers can leverage this SQL injection flaw to execute arbitrary database commands, potentially gaining access to user credentials, personal information, and other confidential data stored within the application's database. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to carry out attacks, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing environments. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190, this vulnerability represents a technique for exploiting weaknesses in input validation to gain unauthorized access to database resources. The affected DirectTopics versions 2.1 and 2.2 likely lack proper input sanitization routines, allowing malicious SQL payloads to be directly interpreted and executed by the underlying database engine. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on these outdated versions, as the attack surface remains unpatched and vulnerable to exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1567 require immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized query approaches to prevent SQL injection attacks. System administrators should prioritize updating to patched versions of DirectTopics or implementing proper input sanitization measures that escape special SQL characters and validate all user-supplied data before processing. The recommended approach involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL command structure from data values, thereby eliminating the risk of command injection. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns in real-time. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack. The remediation process must include comprehensive code reviews to ensure that all database interaction points properly validate and sanitize input parameters, particularly those derived from user requests. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual database access patterns that may indicate ongoing attack activities.