CVE-2005-3828 in KnowledgeBuilder
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in ActiveCampaign KnowledgeBuilder 2.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the article parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3828 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the ActiveCampaign KnowledgeBuilder 2.4 software suite, specifically affecting the index.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the article parameter, creating an exploitable pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-severity weakness in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog due to its potential for data breach and system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input for the article parameter that contains SQL payload code. When the vulnerable application processes this input without proper sanitization, the malicious SQL commands become part of the executed query, potentially allowing attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even gain administrative access to the database system. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform privilege escalation, create backdoors, or execute destructive operations on the database infrastructure. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables remote code execution without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools commonly found in cybercriminal toolkits.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using ActiveCampaign KnowledgeBuilder 2.4 or earlier versions, as it provides attackers with direct access to backend database systems containing potentially sensitive customer information, configuration data, and business-critical records. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.005 for application layer protocol usage, as it exploits web application interfaces to gain unauthorized database access. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, data breach notifications, and potential legal consequences if this vulnerability is exploited successfully, particularly in environments subject to data protection regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA. The long-term impact includes potential system compromise, data corruption, and loss of customer trust that can persist well beyond the immediate exploitation period.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3828 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendor. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to ActiveCampaign KnowledgeBuilder versions that address this vulnerability, as the original software version contains no built-in protections against SQL injection attacks. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques, utilizing prepared statements or parameterized queries, and employing web application firewalls can provide layered defense mechanisms. Database access controls should be reviewed and restricted to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual database access patterns and SQL query structures that may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1082 for system information discovery and T1119 for automated collection of system information.