CVE-2005-2466 in OpenBook
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the auth_user function in admin.php in OpenBook 1.2.2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) username or (2) password parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2466 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the OpenBook content management system version 1.2.2. This issue specifically targets the auth_user function located in the admin.php file, which serves as the primary authentication mechanism for administrative access. The vulnerability manifests when user-supplied input is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that target the username and password parameters within the authentication function. When an attacker submits malicious input through either parameter, the application fails to properly validate or escape the input before incorporating it into database queries. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute within the context of the database connection, potentially enabling full database access, data manipulation, or even system compromise. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, where insufficient input validation permits malicious SQL code to be executed by the database engine.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it directly compromises the authentication system of the OpenBook application. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely, gaining unauthorized administrative access to the system. This level of access enables attackers to modify or delete content, manipulate user accounts, extract sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised system as a foothold for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications exposed to public networks. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access.
The security implications extend beyond immediate unauthorized access, as this vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices that are characteristic of weak application security design. The lack of proper parameterization or input sanitization in the authentication function represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture. Organizations using OpenBook 1.2.2 are particularly vulnerable since this version predates modern security practices such as prepared statements and input validation frameworks. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple parameters indicates a systemic issue within the application's input handling mechanisms rather than an isolated incident, suggesting that other functions within the same codebase may be similarly susceptible to SQL injection attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application. The most effective remediation involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions, ensuring that user input is properly escaped or separated from the SQL command structure. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened to reject malicious patterns and enforce strict data type checking for authentication parameters. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, which emphasizes the prevention of injection flaws as a fundamental security requirement for web applications. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as well as implementing proper security testing procedures including automated scanning and manual penetration testing to verify the effectiveness of implemented fixes.