CVE-2005-3969 in MXChange
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in MXChange before 0.2.0-pre10 PL492 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2018
The CVE-2005-3969 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw discovered in the MXChange content management system prior to version 020-pre10 PL492. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly incorporated into sql commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data breach.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the MXChange application. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious sql payloads that bypass normal input filters and are subsequently executed by the database engine. The vulnerability manifests through unknown vectors, suggesting that the attack surface may encompass multiple entry points within the application's data handling processes. This lack of specificity in the vector description indicates that the vulnerability could be present across various functions that process user input or external data sources, making it particularly dangerous as it may be exploitable through multiple attack paths.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to extract sensitive information from the database including user credentials, personal data, and system configuration details. Beyond data exfiltration, attackers could modify or delete database records, potentially corrupting the entire application functionality. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making the vulnerability particularly attractive for widespread exploitation. This type of vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the mitre attack framework under techniques related to credential access and data extraction.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3969 should focus on immediate patching and implementation of proper input validation. Organizations must upgrade to MXChange version 020-pre10 PL492 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Additionally, implementing proper parameterized queries, input sanitization, and output encoding techniques can significantly reduce the risk of sql injection attacks. Database access controls should be reviewed to ensure that applications use least privilege accounts with minimal required permissions. Security monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect unusual database activity patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure, following best practices established by the open web application security project owasp and other industry security standards.