CVE-2005-3385 in Mailing List
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Techno Dreams Mailing List script allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands and bypass authentication via the userid parameter in admin/login.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2018
The CVE-2005-3385 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the Techno Dreams Mailing List script that exposes remote attackers to significant system compromise capabilities. This vulnerability specifically targets the admin/login.asp component where the userid parameter fails to properly validate or sanitize user input, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to the mailing list administration system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation practices within the web application's authentication mechanism. When the userid parameter is submitted through the login.asp page, the application directly incorporates this user-supplied data into sql query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. This design flaw allows attackers to inject malicious sql code that manipulates the intended database query behavior, potentially executing arbitrary sql commands with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass to encompass full database compromise and potential system infiltration. Attackers can leverage this weakness to escalate privileges, extract sensitive user data including passwords and email addresses, modify mailing list configurations, and potentially gain persistence within the target environment. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web environments.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a fundamental weakness in software design that enables attackers to manipulate database queries through untrusted input. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a technique under TA0006 credential access and TA0008 privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to obtain administrative credentials and elevate their privileges within the system. The attack surface is further expanded when considering that many mailing list systems store sensitive user information and may be integrated with other organizational systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. Organizations should implement strict input sanitization routines that filter or escape special sql characters from user-supplied parameters, while also adopting prepared statements and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection exploitation. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms, including account lockout policies and secure session management, can significantly reduce the attack surface. Regular security auditing and penetration testing of web applications should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.