CVE-2005-4447 in phpCOIN
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in articles\articles_funcs.php in phpCOIN 1.2.2 allows remote attackers to modify SQL syntax and possibly execute SQL in limited circumstances via the rec_next parameter. NOTE: the original disclosure suggests that command injection is not feasible because the injection occurs after an "ORDER BY" clause, but it is likely that this bug could result in an error message path disclosure due to a syntax error, in some environments. Therefore this is an exposure and should be included in CVE.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4447 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the phpCOIN 1.2.2 content management system, specifically affecting the articles_funcs.php file. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query structures. The affected parameter rec_next serves as the entry point for malicious input that can manipulate the underlying database query execution flow.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the rec_next parameter which is processed within the SQL query construction logic. When an attacker supplies crafted input to this parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize the data, allowing the malicious payload to alter the intended SQL syntax. According to CWE-89, this vulnerability directly maps to SQL injection weaknesses where untrusted data is concatenated into SQL commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified as a remote attack vector since the malicious input can be delivered through web requests without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially expose sensitive system information through error message disclosures. While the original disclosure indicates that command injection is not feasible due to the injection occurring after an ORDER BY clause, the vulnerability still presents significant risks including data exposure through syntax error messages that may reveal database structure information. This type of information disclosure aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which involves obtaining data through error messages and system information leakage. The limited circumstances mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that exploitation may require specific environmental conditions or database configurations that make error messages more verbose.
The security implications of this vulnerability are substantial as it provides attackers with potential access to unauthorized data modification capabilities within the phpCOIN system. The fact that this vulnerability exists in a widely used content management system makes it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or to manipulate content within the affected system. The inclusion of this vulnerability in CVE status indicates that it represents a legitimate security exposure that requires immediate attention from system administrators and developers responsible for maintaining phpCOIN installations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized query construction techniques. System administrators should immediately upgrade to patched versions of phpCOIN if available, or implement proper input sanitization measures that prevent malicious SQL syntax from being executed. The recommended approach involves using prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate the SQL command structure from the data being processed, thereby preventing the injection of malicious SQL commands through user input. Additionally, comprehensive logging and monitoring should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts and to provide forensic evidence of security incidents.