CVE-2005-3944 in FAQ System
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in survey.php in ilyav Survey System 1.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the SURVEY_ID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2025
The CVE-2005-3944 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the ilyav Survey System version 1.1 and earlier, specifically targeting the survey.php script. This vulnerability exposes the system to remote code execution attacks through manipulation of the SURVEY_ID parameter, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this survey platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input for the SURVEY_ID parameter that contains sql commands designed to manipulate the underlying database operations. This flaw falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89, which categorizes sql injection vulnerabilities as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to execute unauthorized database commands. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even delete entire database tables through carefully crafted sql payloads that exploit the lack of proper input sanitization.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents severe implications for organizations using the ilyav Survey System, as it allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to survey data and potentially the entire underlying database infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this flaw to retrieve confidential survey responses, user information, and other sensitive data stored within the system. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system or knowledge of internal network structures. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by a wide range of threat actors including script kiddies, organized cybercriminals, and nation-state actors.
The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise and business disruption. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, reputational damage, and legal consequences due to data breaches resulting from this vulnerability. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access points within the network through database compromise, potentially enabling further attacks against other systems within the organization's infrastructure. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with several attack techniques documented in the mitre attack framework, particularly those related to credential access and defense evasion through database manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3944 should prioritize immediate patching of the ilyav Survey System to version 1.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for input validation and sanitization. Organizations should implement proper input validation at multiple layers including application-level sanitization, parameterized queries, and proper database access controls. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can provide additional protection by monitoring for suspicious sql injection patterns and limiting database access privileges. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications, while implementing web application firewalls can provide an additional protective layer against sql injection attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and proper database security practices in preventing sql injection attacks that remain among the most prevalent and dangerous web application vulnerabilities.