CVE-2005-3159 in PHP-Fusion
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in messages.php in PHP-Fusion allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the msg_view parameter, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-3157 and CVE-2005-3158.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3159 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PHP-Fusion content management system, specifically affecting the messages.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the msg_view parameter, which fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming data before incorporating it into database queries. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands directly into the application's database interface, potentially allowing full control over the underlying database system.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The technical implementation involves the direct concatenation of user-supplied input into SQL query strings without proper parameterization or input validation mechanisms. When an attacker manipulates the msg_view parameter with malicious SQL syntax, the application processes this input as part of the database command rather than as simple data, creating an execution path for arbitrary SQL code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-3159 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to perform complete database compromise including data modification, deletion, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers could potentially escalate privileges within the application, extract user credentials, modify content, or even gain access to the underlying server through database exploitation techniques. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core messaging functionality, which often contains sensitive user communications and system information.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1190 for exploitation of remote services. The attack surface is broad as it requires no special privileges beyond network access to the target system. Remediation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries, with immediate patching of the affected PHP-Fusion version being the most critical step. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database query monitoring can provide additional layers of defense against similar injection attacks.
The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and the dangers of concatenating user input directly into database queries. Organizations using PHP-Fusion or similar CMS platforms should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their applications and ensure all user inputs are properly validated and escaped before database interaction. This particular vulnerability highlights the need for regular security updates and the implementation of secure coding practices that prevent injection attacks through proper parameterization of database queries.