CVE-2005-2987 in Digital Scribe
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in login.php in Digital Scribe 1.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2987 represents a critical sql injection flaw in the Digital Scribe 1.4 content management system that specifically targets the login.php script. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote code execution risks through improper input validation mechanisms. The flaw occurs when the application fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql queries, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate database operations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection weaknesses in software applications, making it a well-documented and serious security concern within the industry's vulnerability taxonomy.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's handling of the username parameter within the login.php script. When a user submits a login request, the application directly incorporates the username value into a sql query without proper sanitization or parameterization. This design flaw enables attackers to inject malicious sql code that can manipulate the database query execution flow. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted usernames that contain sql injection payloads, potentially allowing them to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive database information, or even modify database records. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from outside the network perimeter without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass scenarios and can result in complete database compromise. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to retrieve all user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data stored within the application's database. The vulnerability also poses risks for data integrity and availability, as attackers could potentially delete or modify database entries. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which covers exploit public-facing applications, and T1071.004 which involves application layer protocol manipulation. Organizations using Digital Scribe 1.4 are particularly at risk as this vulnerability has existed since the 2005 release and many installations may not have received security updates or patches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries within the login.php script to prevent sql injection attacks. Organizations should apply the vendor-supplied patches or upgrade to newer versions of Digital Scribe that address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input sanitization measures can provide additional protection layers. Security teams should conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify similar sql injection vulnerabilities in other application components and establish secure coding practices that prevent such flaws from occurring in future development cycles. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect and remediate similar issues across the entire application infrastructure.