CVE-2005-4143 in List Manager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Lyris ListManager 5.0 through 8.9a allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via SQL code after a numeric argument to a /read/attachment URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4143 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Lyris ListManager versions 5.0 through 8.9a. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input through the /read/attachment URL endpoint where numeric arguments are processed without proper sanitization or validation. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection attacks where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL command strings without adequate escaping or parameterization. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious numeric input that gets appended to SQL queries, thereby enabling unauthorized execution of arbitrary database commands.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker sends specially crafted numeric parameters to the /read/attachment URL within the Lyris ListManager application. The application fails to properly validate or sanitize these numeric inputs before incorporating them into database queries, creating an environment where malicious SQL code can be injected and executed. This flaw operates at the application layer and does not require authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to potentially access, modify, or delete sensitive data stored in the underlying database. The vulnerability affects the database interaction layer of the application, specifically targeting how numeric parameters are processed within the SQL query construction mechanism.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-4143 extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables comprehensive database compromise. An attacker could potentially gain access to user credentials, personal information, email lists, and other sensitive data stored within the ListManager system. The vulnerability also opens pathways for privilege escalation attacks where attackers might attempt to elevate their access rights within the database. Depending on the database configuration and the privileges of the database user account used by Lyris ListManager, exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. Additionally, the vulnerability may facilitate data manipulation or deletion, potentially disrupting email list services and causing business continuity issues for organizations relying on the affected software.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. The most effective remediation involves ensuring that all numeric parameters are properly validated and sanitized before being incorporated into SQL queries. Application developers should adopt prepared statements or parameterized queries to separate SQL code from data, which directly addresses the underlying CWE-89 vulnerability. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection, though these are considered temporary measures until proper code-level fixes are implemented. Security patches from Lyris or alternative solutions should be deployed as soon as possible, and organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential compromise of their systems. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in database access controls to minimize the impact of such security flaws.