CVE-2005-2035 in Cool Cafe Chat
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in login.asp for Cool Cafe (Cool Café) Chat 1.2.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2024
The CVE-2005-2035 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the login.asp component of Cool Cafe Chat version 1.2.1, a web-based chat application designed for internet cafes and similar environments. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanism where user credentials are processed, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized system access. The flaw exists within the password parameter handling, which fails to properly sanitize or validate user input before incorporating it into database queries. This allows remote attackers to inject malicious sql code that can be executed by the underlying database system, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through careful crafting of the password field in the login request, where attackers can inject sql payload characters and commands that are then processed by the vulnerable application. The flaw stems from improper input validation and sanitization practices, where user-supplied data flows directly into sql queries without adequate escaping or parameterization. This type of vulnerability is classified as a classic sql injection attack pattern that falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of secure coding practices in the application's input handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can provide attackers with complete control over the affected system. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive user data, modify database contents, create new user accounts, or even escalate privileges within the system. In the context of a cafe environment, this could result in unauthorized access to customer information, financial data, or system configuration details. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the premises, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for public-facing applications. This aligns with the attack technique described in the mitre attack framework under T1190 - exploit public-facing application, which specifically targets vulnerabilities in externally accessible systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2035 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization measures. The most effective approach involves implementing parameterized queries or prepared statements that separate sql code from user input, preventing malicious payloads from being executed as commands. Additionally, input filtering should be implemented to reject or escape special sql characters such as semicolons, single quotes, and comment markers that are commonly used in sql injection attacks. The application should also implement proper error handling that does not reveal database structure information to users, as this can aid attackers in crafting more sophisticated attacks. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block common sql injection patterns, though this represents a defensive measure rather than a complete fix. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar flaws in legacy applications. System administrators should also implement proper access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.