CVE-2006-2136 in AZNEWS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in news.php in AZNEWS allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the ID parameter.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2018
The CVE-2006-2136 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in the AZNEWS news management system's news.php script. This vulnerability specifically targets the ID parameter handling mechanism, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database layer. The flaw exists due to insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, allowing attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries through crafted malicious input. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. This type of vulnerability falls squarely within the ATT&CK technique T1190, known as "Exploit Public-Facing Application," as it targets a web application interface that is accessible from external networks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the news.php script's improper handling of the ID parameter without adequate sanitization or parameterized query construction. When users provide input through the ID parameter, the application directly incorporates this data into SQL query strings without proper escaping or validation mechanisms. This creates a scenario where an attacker can append malicious SQL syntax to the legitimate query, potentially gaining unauthorized access to database contents, modifying records, or executing destructive operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for remote code execution capabilities, enabling attackers to escalate privileges and potentially compromise the entire database infrastructure. The lack of input filtering means that SQL commands such as UNION SELECT, DROP TABLE, or other malicious constructs can be injected and executed with the privileges of the database user account.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing AZNEWS systems, as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations without requiring legitimate credentials. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, potentially allowing for complete database compromise, data corruption, or service disruption. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from database tables, modify existing records, or even delete critical data structures. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, making the vulnerability particularly attractive for cybercriminals. Additionally, the vulnerability could facilitate further attacks within the network infrastructure if database credentials are not properly isolated, potentially enabling lateral movement and privilege escalation attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-2136 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized query construction throughout the application code. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied input, particularly the ID parameter in this case, undergoes rigorous sanitization before being incorporated into database queries. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries serves as the primary defense mechanism against SQL injection attacks, as these approaches separate SQL command structure from data values. Additionally, the application should enforce proper access controls and privilege separation, ensuring that database accounts used by the web application have minimal required permissions. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense, while regular security code reviews and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other application components. The remediation process must also include comprehensive testing to validate that the implemented fixes do not introduce new functionality issues or break existing legitimate application behavior.