CVE-2005-2636 in phpPgAds
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in lib-view-direct.inc.php in phpAdsNew and phpPgAds before 2.0.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the clientid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2636 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the phpAdsNew and phpPgAds advertising platforms. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 2.0.6 and resides in the lib-view-direct.inc.php file, which handles direct view functionality for advertisements. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the clientid parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the database layer.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization practices within the phpAdsNew framework. When a user provides a clientid parameter to the lib-view-direct.inc.php script, the application directly incorporates this input into sql query construction without adequate escaping or parameterization. This primitive approach to sql query building aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities resulting from insufficient input validation and sanitization. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious clientid values that contain sql payload commands, effectively bypassing authentication mechanisms and gaining unauthorized access to backend database systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands on the affected database server. This capability allows adversaries to perform destructive operations including data deletion, modification of advertising campaigns, user account manipulation, and potentially full system compromise through database-level privileges. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from external networks without requiring physical access to the system. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190, this represents a remote code execution vector that can be leveraged for persistent access and lateral movement within compromised networks. The vulnerability also falls under T1071.004, indicating the use of application layer protocols for exploitation, specifically targeting the web application interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2636 require immediate implementation of version updates to phpAdsNew and phpPgAds 2.0.6 or later, which contain proper input sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement proper parameterized queries and prepared statements throughout their applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components. Network-level defenses including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional protection layers. Input validation should be enforced at multiple points including client-side, server-side, and database-level to create defense-in-depth measures. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar sql injection vulnerabilities across the entire application infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security practices throughout the software development lifecycle.