CVE-2005-2031 in socialMPN
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in socialMPN allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via (1) the sid parameter to article.php, (2) uname parameter to user.php, (3) siteid parameter to viewforum.php, (4) username parameter to newtopic.php, the (5) secid or (6) artid parameter to sections.php, (7) siteid parameter to index.php, or (8) sid parameter to friend.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2031 represents a critical security flaw in the socialMPN web application that exposes multiple pathways for remote SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability resides within a content management system designed for social networking platforms and presents a significant risk to organizations relying on the software for their online presence. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through eight distinct entry points across different PHP scripts including article.php, user.php, viewforum.php, newtopic.php, sections.php, index.php, and friend.php, making it particularly dangerous as it affects core application functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL command strings without proper sanitization. The attack vectors exploit parameters such as sid, uname, siteid, username, secid, artid, and others that are processed by the application's backend database layer. When these parameters are manipulated with malicious SQL payloads, the application fails to properly escape special characters or use parameterized queries, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the database user. This creates a pathway for data exfiltration, unauthorized access, data manipulation, and potential system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2031 extends far beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive user information. Organizations using socialMPN may face severe consequences including loss of user privacy data, unauthorized modification of content, and potential lateral movement within network infrastructure if the database server has elevated privileges. The vulnerability's widespread nature across multiple application endpoints increases the attack surface significantly, making it easier for threat actors to find a successful exploitation vector. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in the context of ATT&CK framework's T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents an easily exploitable weakness in a publicly accessible web application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on implementing robust input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. Organizations should immediately implement proper input sanitization techniques, including the use of prepared statements and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. The application should employ proper output encoding and implement strict access controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection, while regular security updates and patches should be applied to address known vulnerabilities in the socialMPN platform. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring to detect unusual SQL query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.