CVE-2006-0146 in Simplog
Summary
by MITRE
The server.php test script in ADOdb for PHP before 4.70, as used in multiple products including (1) Mantis, (2) PostNuke, (3) Moodle, (4) Cacti, (5) Xaraya, (6) PHPOpenChat, (7) MAXdev MD-Pro, and (8) MediaBeez, when the MySQL root password is empty, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the sql parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0146 represents a critical security flaw in ADOdb for PHP versions prior to 4.70 that affects numerous widely-used web applications across multiple platforms. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the server.php test script, which serves as a diagnostic tool for database connectivity testing. The flaw becomes particularly dangerous when the MySQL root account is configured with an empty password, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of the sql parameter in the server.php script. When an attacker submits a malicious SQL command through this parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before executing it against the database. This lack of input validation creates a classic SQL injection vulnerability that can be exploited to perform unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications. The absence of proper parameter sanitization allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and directly manipulate database queries through the web interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple application ecosystems including content management systems, learning management platforms, network monitoring tools, and various web-based applications. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive data, modify database records, create new user accounts, or even escalate privileges within the affected applications. The widespread adoption of ADOdb across these platforms means that a single vulnerability can potentially compromise dozens of different applications, making the impact significantly broader than typical individual application flaws. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where security best practices were not followed, such as leaving root accounts without passwords, which creates an additional attack surface that can be exploited through this SQL injection vector.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their systems. The primary and most critical mitigation involves upgrading to ADOdb version 4.70 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that prevent the execution of malicious SQL commands. Additionally, administrators should ensure that database accounts, particularly root accounts, are configured with strong passwords and that unnecessary database access privileges are removed. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious SQL injection patterns. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting database access permissions and ensuring that applications only have the minimum required database privileges necessary for their operation. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential SQL injection vulnerabilities in their application code and implement proper input validation frameworks that align with industry standards such as those recommended by OWASP and NIST.