CVE-2005-3158 in PHP-Fusion
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in messages.php in PHP-Fusion 6.00.106 and 6.00.107 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) pm_email_notify and (2) pm_save_sent parameters, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-3157 and CVE-2005-3159.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2019
This vulnerability exists within the PHP-Fusion content management system version 6.00.106 and 6.00.107, specifically in the messages.php script that handles private messaging functionality. The flaw represents a classic sql injection vulnerability that allows remote attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability specifically affects two parameters: pm_email_notify and pm_save_sent, which are used to control email notification settings and message saving preferences within the private messaging system. Unlike related vulnerabilities CVE-2005-3157 and CVE-2005-3159, this issue targets distinct input vectors within the same application component, making it a separate but equally dangerous threat vector.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the messages.php script. When users interact with the private messaging features, the application fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql queries. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input for the pm_email_notify and pm_save_sent parameters that, when processed by the application, get interpreted as part of the sql command rather than as data. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary sql code that executes with the privileges of the web application's database user, potentially enabling full database compromise and unauthorized data access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary sql commands on the affected system's database. Successful exploitation could result in data theft, data modification, or complete database compromise. Attackers might extract sensitive user information including usernames, passwords, and private messages stored within the php-fusion database. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for web applications. Given that php-fusion was a popular open source content management system, this vulnerability could potentially affect numerous websites and applications running these specific versions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected php-fusion versions to the latest available security releases. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization techniques including parameterized queries and prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks. The principle of least privilege should be applied to database accounts used by php-fusion, ensuring that database users have minimal required permissions. Additionally, web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring for suspicious sql injection patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws and represents a common attack pattern categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation issues in other application components.