CVE-2006-1081 in PluggedOut Nexus
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in forgotten_password.php in Jonathan Beckett PluggedOut Nexus 0.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the email parameter.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1081 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PluggedOut Nexus 0.1 content management system developed by Jonathan Beckett. This security weakness specifically targets the forgotten_password.php script which handles password recovery functionality for users. The vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The affected parameter is the email field which users provide when attempting to reset their forgotten passwords, making this attack vector particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any remote attacker without requiring authentication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection attacks where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL command strings without proper sanitization. When an attacker submits malicious input through the email parameter, the application fails to properly escape special SQL characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or comment markers that would normally terminate or alter the intended SQL query structure. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the database user account used by the application. The attack can potentially lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete database compromise depending on the underlying database system and the permissions granted to the application's database user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft as it fundamentally undermines the security of the entire user authentication system. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to bypass normal authentication mechanisms, access sensitive user information including hashed passwords, and potentially escalate their privileges within the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets a core authentication function that legitimate users frequently interact with, making detection more difficult and the attack surface broader. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create severe security implications in web applications. The attack can be executed through simple HTTP requests without requiring complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to ensure that user-supplied data cannot alter the intended structure of SQL commands. Organizations should immediately patch or upgrade to versions that address this vulnerability, as no workarounds exist that fully resolve the underlying issue. Additionally, implementing proper database access controls, using stored procedures where appropriate, and deploying web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities and T1071 for application layer protocols, demonstrating how such flaws can serve as entry points for more comprehensive attacks. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual database query patterns and malformed email addresses that might indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that all input handling mechanisms properly sanitize user data before database interaction.