CVE-2005-3840 in Omnistar Live
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in kb.php in Omnistar Live 5.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) id and (2) category_id parameter. NOTE: due to a typo, an Internet Explorer issue was incorrectly assigned this identifier, but the correct identifier is CVE-2005-3240.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3840 represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in the kb.php script of Omnistar Live versions 5.2 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The specific parameters affected are id and category_id, which when manipulated by remote attackers can lead to unauthorized execution of malicious SQL commands within the underlying database system.
This SQL injection vulnerability operates at the application layer and falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The flaw allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and potentially gain full administrative control over the database backend. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data retrieval as it enables attackers to perform destructive operations including data modification, deletion, or unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the database.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe for organizations utilizing Omnistar Live systems, as remote attackers can exploit these weaknesses without requiring legitimate credentials. The attack vector involves crafting malicious input parameters that get directly embedded into SQL queries, allowing attackers to manipulate database operations through carefully constructed payloads. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol and T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories, demonstrating how attackers can leverage web application flaws to extract and manipulate database content.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. All user-supplied parameters must undergo rigorous sanitization before being processed, with the use of prepared statements and parameterized queries becoming essential defensive measures. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and database permissions to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. Additionally, regular security auditing and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security weaknesses in the application architecture.
The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw through SQL injection demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications. The fact that this vulnerability affected a content management system highlights how database-driven applications remain prime targets for attackers seeking to exploit poorly validated user inputs. Security professionals should note that such vulnerabilities often persist in legacy systems where proper security updates and code reviews have not been implemented, making them particularly dangerous in production environments where sensitive data is processed and stored.