CVE-2005-3880 in Omnistar KBase
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Omnistar KBase 4.0 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) article_id parameter in users/comments.php, (2) category_id and (3) id parameters in users/kb.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3880 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Omnistar KBase version 4.0 and earlier systems. This vulnerability resides within the web application's handling of user-supplied input parameters, specifically targeting three distinct endpoints that process database queries without proper input validation or sanitization. The affected parameters include article_id in users/comments.php, and both category_id and id parameters in users/kb.php, creating multiple attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit the system's database interface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database engine. Attackers can manipulate these parameters to inject arbitrary SQL commands that bypass authentication mechanisms and directly interact with the underlying database system. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly escape or parameterize user input before incorporating it into SQL query strings, allowing attackers to modify the intended query structure and execute unauthorized database operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within the knowledge base system. Successful exploitation could result in data theft, data modification, or complete database compromise, potentially exposing confidential information such as user credentials, article content, and system metadata. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications. Additionally, the presence of multiple vulnerable parameters increases the attack surface and provides attackers with alternative exploitation paths.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) for initial access, and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) for reconnaissance activities. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and parameterized queries to prevent such vulnerabilities, while also deploying web application firewalls and regular security assessments. The remediation strategy involves upgrading to a patched version of Omnistar KBase, implementing proper input sanitization, and applying the principle of least privilege to database connections to minimize potential damage from successful attacks.