CVE-2005-1839 in Liberum Help Desk
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Doug Luxem Liberum Help Desk 0.97.3 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter to (1) view.asp or (2) print.asp or (3) edit parameter to register.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1839 affects the Doug Luxem Liberum Help Desk version 0.97.3, representing a critical SQL injection flaw that permits remote attackers to execute arbitrary database commands. This vulnerability manifests through three distinct entry points including the id parameter in view.asp and print.asp scripts, as well as the edit parameter within register.asp. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query constructions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses where untrusted data is directly concatenated into SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization. Attackers can exploit these entry points by manipulating the id parameter in view.asp and print.asp to inject malicious SQL syntax that bypasses authentication mechanisms and gains unauthorized access to backend database systems. The edit parameter in register.asp presents an additional attack surface where crafted input can similarly compromise database integrity and confidentiality.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential data destruction. Remote attackers can leverage these injection points to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configurations stored within the database. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations such as data modification, deletion, or even privilege escalation to administrative levels. This represents a significant threat to the integrity and availability of help desk services, potentially disrupting business operations and exposing confidential organizational data.
The security implications of CVE-2005-1839 align with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes exploitation of vulnerabilities in software applications to gain unauthorized access to systems. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental security principles outlined in secure coding standards. Organizations utilizing this help desk solution face substantial risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, particularly when the application operates in environments with limited network segmentation. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any network location without requiring physical access to the system.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the Liberum Help Desk application to address the identified SQL injection vulnerabilities. System administrators must implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase to prevent similar issues in future deployments. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to the help desk application, while database access controls should be strictly enforced to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure.