CVE-2006-2046 in Cartweaver ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Application Dynamics Cartweaver ColdFusion 2.16.11 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) category and (2) keywords parameters in (a) Results.cfm, and the (3) ProdID parameter in (b) Details.cfm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2006-2046 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Application Dynamics Cartweaver ColdFusion version 2.16.11 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the web application's handling of user-supplied input parameters, specifically targeting three distinct input vectors that process data through the Results.cfm and Details.cfm pages. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter malicious SQL payload data submitted by remote attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic SQL injection attack vector where attackers can manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through carefully crafted input parameters. The category and keywords parameters in Results.cfm provide entry points where unfiltered user input directly concatenates into SQL query strings without proper parameterization or escaping mechanisms. Similarly, the ProdID parameter in Details.cfm presents another injection point where the application fails to validate or sanitize the product identifier before incorporating it into database operations. These flaws align with CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as weaknesses in software that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through untrusted input.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for affected organizations as remote attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive data including customer information, product catalogs, and potentially administrative credentials. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers might be able to modify or delete database records, potentially causing service disruption and financial loss. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or network, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web environments.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses any user-facing functionality that processes the identified input parameters, including search functionality in Results.cfm and product detail pages in Details.cfm. Attackers typically begin by analyzing the application's response to malformed input, then craft specific payloads designed to bypass input validation and inject malicious SQL commands. The vulnerability's presence in ColdFusion applications particularly increases risk as ColdFusion's scripting environment may not automatically sanitize all user inputs, especially when developers rely on dynamic query construction. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting web application interfaces for data extraction and manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-2046 must focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Cartweaver version 2.16.12 or later, which contains patches addressing these vulnerabilities. Database access controls should be implemented to restrict application database user privileges, ensuring that the web application only has access to necessary tables and operations. Input sanitization measures including proper escaping of special characters, parameterized query implementation, and input length validation should be enforced across all user input points. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual database query patterns and unauthorized data access attempts that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.