CVE-2005-4226 in phpWebThings
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple "potential" SQL injection vulnerabilities in phpWebThings 1.4 Patched might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via (1) the ref parameter in download.php, (2) the direction, msg, sforum, reason, subname, and toform parameters in forum.php, (3) the msg and forum parameters in forum_edit.php, (4) the msg and forum parameters in forum_write.php, (5) the tekst parameter in guestbook.php, (6) the menuoption parameter in index.php, and the (7) sel_avatar parameter in myaccount.php. NOTE: the forum.php/forum vector is already identified by CVE-2005-3585.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4226 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting phpWebThings version 1.4, a web-based content management system that was widely deployed in 2005. This vulnerability class falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The affected application components demonstrate a fundamental failure in input validation and data handling, creating multiple attack vectors that could enable remote code execution through database manipulation. These vulnerabilities were particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of phpWebThings in web hosting environments and the potential for attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The technical exploitation of these vulnerabilities occurs through direct injection of malicious SQL commands via HTTP parameters that are not properly sanitized before being processed by the application's database layer. The specific parameters identified include ref in download.php, direction, msg, sforum, reason, subname, and toform in forum.php, along with msg and forum parameters in both forum_edit.php and forum_write.php, tekst in guestbook.php, menuoption in index.php, and sel_avatar in myaccount.php. Each of these parameters represents a distinct entry point where user-supplied data flows directly into SQL query construction, bypassing any form of input validation or escaping mechanisms that should normally protect against such attacks. The fact that the forum.php vector was already identified in CVE-2005-3585 indicates this was a known issue that was not properly addressed in the patched version, suggesting a pattern of incomplete vulnerability remediation.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and unauthorized administrative access. Attackers could potentially execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, allowing them to extract sensitive information, modify database content, or even escalate privileges to gain full administrative control over the web application and associated systems. The multi-vector nature of the vulnerability increases the attack surface significantly, providing multiple paths for exploitation that could be leveraged in combination to maximize damage. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which describes the use of application layer protocols for command and control communications, where database injection serves as a critical initial access vector. The attack could result in persistent backdoors, data exfiltration, and complete system takeover, particularly when the database contains user credentials, application configuration details, or sensitive business data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4226 require immediate implementation of proper input validation, parameterized queries, and output escaping mechanisms across all affected application components. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization for all user-supplied data, utilize prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection, and employ web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper secure coding practices and input validation, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten 2004 and subsequent security standards. Additionally, regular security audits, code reviews, and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other application components. System administrators should also implement network segmentation, monitor database access logs for suspicious activities, and ensure that all web applications are kept up to date with security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that all identified parameters are properly sanitized and that no additional attack vectors remain unaddressed.