CVE-2005-4548 in Statistics Counter
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the "user area" in RWS Statistics Counter before 2.4.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2017
The CVE-2005-4548 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in RWS Statistics Counter version 2.4.0 and earlier, specifically affecting the user area component of the application. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, making it a classic sql injection attack vector. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and sanitization within the user area functionality, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands through unspecified input vectors. The affected application fails to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql queries, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers without requiring authentication or elevated privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input that gets directly concatenated into sql statements within the application's backend processing. This allows the attacker to manipulate the intended sql query execution flow, potentially gaining unauthorized access to database resources, extracting sensitive information, modifying data, or even executing destructive operations on the underlying database system. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability may be present across multiple input points within the user area, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from outside the local network, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized database access. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform data manipulation, information disclosure, and potentially establish persistent access to the affected system. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments where the application may be handling sensitive user data or business-critical information. Organizations running affected versions of RWS Statistics Counter face significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential system infiltration, especially in environments where the application is connected to databases containing personal information, financial data, or other sensitive resources. This vulnerability also represents a violation of fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing injection flaws that remain among the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4548 primarily involve upgrading to RWS Statistics Counter version 2.4.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the sql injection vulnerability. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures, including the use of prepared statements and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. Database access controls should be reviewed and implemented to limit the privileges of database accounts used by the application, following the principle of least privilege. Additionally, network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust input validation practices as recommended by the MITRE ATT&CK framework for preventing command injection and sql injection attacks.