CVE-2005-3585 in PhpWebThings
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in forum.php in PhpWebThings 1.4.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the forum parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3585 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PhpWebThings 1.4.4 web application framework, specifically affecting the forum.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the forum parameter, creating an exploitable condition that enables remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands into the application's database layer. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization practices within the application's data processing pipeline, allowing attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries through crafted malicious input. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications, making it a direct descendant of well-established database security concerns that have plagued web applications for decades.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a maliciously crafted forum parameter value to the forum.php script. The application fails to properly escape or filter special characters in the input before incorporating it into SQL query construction, thereby allowing the attacker to inject additional SQL commands that execute within the database context. This injection can potentially lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete database compromise depending on the privileges of the database user account. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication to exploit and can be executed remotely, making it a significant threat to any system running the vulnerable PhpWebThings version. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of remote services through injection attacks, and specifically maps to the use of SQL injection as a method for gaining unauthorized access to database resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potentially complete control over the affected database system. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized data modification, data deletion, or the extraction of sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, or business-critical information stored within the application's database. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system's data assets, creating cascading security implications that could compromise the entire application ecosystem. Organizations relying on PhpWebThings 1.4.4 may face significant regulatory compliance issues if sensitive data is compromised, particularly in environments governed by standards such as pci dss, hipaa, or gdpr. The vulnerability's exploitation risk is amplified by the fact that it does not require specialized knowledge or tools to execute, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors from script kiddies to sophisticated attackers. The attack surface is further extended by the potential for attackers to use this vulnerability as a foothold for additional attacks within the network infrastructure, as database compromises often provide access to underlying system resources and other interconnected applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3585 should focus on immediate patching of the vulnerable PhpWebThings application to the latest secure version that addresses the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being incorporated into database queries. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should be mandatory for all database interactions, as these approaches effectively prevent SQL injection attacks by separating SQL code from data. Additionally, organizations should enforce the principle of least privilege for database accounts used by the application, ensuring that database access is limited to only the necessary operations required for application functionality. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense-in-depth layers, though these should not be considered replacements for proper code-level fixes. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase, while automated scanning tools can help detect potential injection points that may have been overlooked during development. The vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of implementing robust input validation mechanisms in all web applications, particularly those handling sensitive data.