CVE-2005-1637 in NPDS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in NPDS 4.8 and 5.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the thold parameter to (1) comments.php or (2) pollcomments.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1637 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting NPDS versions 4.8 and 5.0, specifically targeting the comments.php and pollcomments.php scripts. This vulnerability resides within the input validation mechanisms of the application's comment handling functionality, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. The affected thold parameter serves as the primary attack vector, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute within the database context, potentially compromising the entire backend infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the thold parameter in HTTP requests sent to the vulnerable endpoints. When an attacker submits crafted input through these parameters, the application fails to validate or escape special characters that could alter the intended SQL query structure. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL fragments that bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even execute administrative commands on the underlying database server. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 as SQL Injection, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws in the industry.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1637 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to gain unauthorized access to the application's database layer. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, including access to user credentials, personal information, and application configuration data. Attackers might also leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure, potentially leading to broader system compromise. The vulnerability affects the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of the affected systems, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on NPDS for content management or community interaction.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, where adversaries target web applications to gain initial access. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects publicly accessible comment systems, making it easily exploitable by automated scanning tools. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper output encoding to prevent the injection of malicious SQL commands. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments, as the flaw existed in widely deployed versions of the software. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts.