CVE-2005-4792 in phpWebSite
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in Appalachian State University phpWebSite 0.10.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the module parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4792 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the phpWebSite content management system version 0.10.1 and earlier, developed by Appalachian State University. This security weakness specifically affects the index.php script where the module parameter is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization, creating an exploitable condition that enables malicious actors to manipulate database queries. The vulnerability resides in the application's failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into sql command structures, which directly violates fundamental security principles for preventing injection attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the module parameter in the index.php script. The application processes this parameter directly within sql queries without proper sanitization measures, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary sql commands that execute with the privileges of the web application's database user. This flaw maps to CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into sql queries without proper escaping or parameterization. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding that enables attackers to bypass normal application security controls and gain unauthorized access to database resources.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to systems running affected versions of phpWebSite as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands without authentication. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive data from the database, modify or delete records, and in some cases escalate privileges to gain complete control over the database server. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring local system access or credentials. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized system access. The attack vector through the web interface makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by automated tools and requires minimal technical expertise to execute successfully.
The recommended mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the phpWebSite application to version 0.10.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the sql injection flaw. Organizations should also implement input validation and parameterized queries throughout their applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices including the principle of least privilege for database connections and regular security testing including penetration testing and code reviews to identify and remediate injection vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which covers the use of sql injection to gain unauthorized access to database systems and extract sensitive information from applications.