CVE-2005-4378 in Baseline CMS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Page.asp in Baseline CMS 1.95 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the SiteNodeID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4378 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Baseline CMS 1.95 and earlier versions, specifically affecting the Page.asp component. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the SiteNodeID parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands directly into the database query execution flow, potentially compromising the entire backend database infrastructure. The vulnerability impacts the core functionality of the content management system by enabling unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion operations that should be restricted to authorized administrators only.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the SiteNodeID parameter is passed to the Page.asp script without proper input validation or parameterized query construction. Attackers can craft malicious SQL payloads that manipulate the database query logic, potentially bypassing authentication mechanisms, extracting sensitive information, or even gaining administrative control over the database. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The attack vector is remote and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input handling practices and inadequate protection against malicious input manipulation that violates fundamental web application security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to encompass complete system compromise and potential data breaches. Remote attackers could exploit this flaw to extract confidential information including user credentials, personal data, and business-sensitive content stored within the database. The vulnerability also enables attackers to modify or delete database records, potentially causing data corruption or complete system outages. In a broader context, this vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities. Organizations running affected Baseline CMS versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their web applications, with potential downstream impacts including regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendor, as well as implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries in the application code. Organizations should enforce the principle of least privilege for database connections and implement proper access controls to limit the damage potential from successful exploitation. The implementation of web application firewalls and input sanitization mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other application components and establish secure coding practices that prevent SQL injection vulnerabilities from occurring in future development cycles. Regular security testing and code reviews are essential to maintain the security posture of web applications and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.