CVE-2005-4821 in Land Down Under
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Land Down Under (LDU) v801 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via parameters including (1) the m parameter in auth.php, (2) the f parameter in events.php, or (3) the e parameter in plug.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4821 represents a critical security flaw in Land Down Under (LDU) version 801 and earlier systems, exposing multiple pathways for remote attackers to perform unauthorized SQL command execution. This vulnerability falls under the category of SQL injection attacks, which occur when applications fail to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into database queries. The specific parameters affected include the m parameter in auth.php, the f parameter in events.php, and the e parameter in plug.php, all of which demonstrate the widespread nature of this flaw across different modules of the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows attackers to manipulate database operations without authentication, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and parameter sanitization within the affected PHP scripts. When user-supplied data is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization, attackers can inject malicious SQL code through the vulnerable parameters. This creates a condition where the database engine interprets attacker-controlled input as executable SQL commands rather than simple data values. The CWE-89 identifier applies directly to this scenario, as it represents the classic SQL injection weakness where untrusted data flows into SQL command construction without adequate protection mechanisms. The attack vector is remote, meaning that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications accessible over networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate, delete, or extract sensitive information from the underlying database. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to user accounts, modification of application data, or even complete database compromise. The affected parameters span different functional areas of the application, indicating that the vulnerability is not isolated to a single module but represents a systemic security flaw in the application's architecture. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the use of SQL injection to gain access to databases and extract sensitive information. The widespread nature of the vulnerability across multiple PHP files suggests that the application's developers failed to implement consistent input validation measures throughout the codebase.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent user-supplied data from being interpreted as SQL commands. The most effective approach involves using prepared statements or parameterized queries, which separate SQL command structure from data values, ensuring that user input cannot alter the intended execution flow of database operations. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization routines and validating all user-supplied parameters against expected data types and formats will significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection attempts, while maintaining regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their systems. The remediation process should include immediate patching of the affected application version and comprehensive code review to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.