CVE-2005-4264 in PHP Support Tickets
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in index.php in PHP Support Tickets 2.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) username and (2) password fields, and (3) id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4264 affects PHP Support Tickets version 2.0 and represents a critical SQL injection flaw that compromises the integrity of the application's database layer. This vulnerability exists within the index.php file and demonstrates a classic failure in input validation and parameter handling that has persisted across numerous web applications throughout the years. The flaw specifically targets three distinct input vectors including username and password fields used during authentication, as well as an id parameter that likely controls access to support ticket records or user accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL query construction. When attackers provide malicious input through the username or password fields, the application directly concatenates these values into SQL statements without adequate filtering or parameterization. Similarly, the id parameter exhibits the same weakness, allowing attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted input values. This pattern of insecure database query construction aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of input validation and output encoding practices that are essential for preventing malicious data injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or modification. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially gaining complete administrative control over the application's data repository. This includes the ability to extract sensitive user credentials, modify or delete support ticket records, access confidential customer information, and potentially escalate privileges within the database environment. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for web-hosted applications. According to ATT&CK framework categorization, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, representing a common attack pattern where adversaries target web applications to gain unauthorized access to backend systems. The impact is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability affects core authentication mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to bypass authentication entirely and assume the identity of legitimate users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized query construction. The most effective approach involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL command structure from user data, ensuring that malicious input cannot alter the intended query execution path. Additionally, comprehensive input sanitization should be implemented to filter or escape special characters that could be used in SQL injection attacks. The application should also implement proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, though this represents a defensive measure rather than a complete solution. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on database interaction patterns are essential for identifying similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping software components updated, as PHP Support Tickets 2.0 represents an outdated version that likely contains additional unpatched security flaws. Implementing principle of least privilege for database accounts and regular monitoring of database access logs can help detect exploitation attempts and limit the potential damage from successful attacks.