CVE-2005-4064 in A-FAQ
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in A-FAQ 1.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) faqid parameter to faqDspItem.asp and (2) catcode parameter to faqDsp.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4064 represents a critical security flaw in the A-FAQ 1.0 web application that exposes multiple pathways for remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities that occur when user input is improperly validated or sanitized before being incorporated into SQL queries. The affected application components include the faqDspItem.asp and faqDsp.asp scripts, which process user-supplied parameters without adequate input validation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that leverage improper parameter handling in the web application's backend database interactions. Attackers can manipulate the faqid parameter within the faqDspItem.asp script to inject malicious SQL code that bypasses normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. Similarly, the catcode parameter in faqDsp.asp provides another entry point for SQL injection attacks that can potentially compromise the entire database infrastructure. These vulnerabilities demonstrate a fundamental flaw in the application's input sanitization processes where user-supplied data flows directly into SQL command construction without proper escaping or parameterization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential system takeover. Remote attackers can leverage these injection points to extract confidential data, modify database contents, create new user accounts with elevated privileges, or even execute operating system commands if the database server has appropriate permissions. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on the A-FAQ 1.0 platform for managing frequently asked questions and related content, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in the underlying database systems. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the use of SQL injection to gain access to databases and extract or manipulate sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues in the future. The primary solution involves implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements throughout the application codebase, ensuring that user input is never directly concatenated into SQL commands. Additionally, comprehensive input validation should be implemented at multiple layers, including client-side and server-side filtering, to prevent malicious payloads from reaching the database layer. Organizations should also implement proper output encoding and escaping mechanisms to prevent any potential cross-site scripting attacks that could compound the SQL injection vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough code reviews, penetration testing, and security audits to identify and address any additional injection points within the application. Database access controls should be strictly enforced using the principle of least privilege, ensuring that database accounts used by the web application have minimal required permissions and cannot execute administrative commands. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms to protect against injection attacks that remain among the most prevalent and dangerous security threats in web applications.