CVE-2006-2543 in Xtreme Topsites
Summary
by MITRE
Xtreme Topsites 1.1 allows remote attackers to trigger MySQL errors and possibly conduct SQL injection attacks via unspecified vectors in join.php.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2543 affects Xtreme Topsites version 1.1, a web application designed for managing top sites directories. This application suffers from insufficient input validation mechanisms that allow malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the join.php script, which serves as a critical component for user registration and membership management within the topsites platform. The flaw represents a classic example of inadequate parameter sanitization that can be exploited to compromise the underlying database infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into MySQL database queries. Attackers can manipulate the join.php script by submitting specially crafted parameters that alter the intended query structure, potentially leading to unauthorized database access or manipulation. This weakness falls under the category of SQL injection vulnerabilities as defined by CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications to execute malicious SQL commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive information from the database, modify user records, or even escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the server to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web environments. Database administrators and security professionals should be particularly concerned about the potential for data exfiltration, as the vulnerability could allow unauthorized access to user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data stored within the MySQL database.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of parameterized queries and prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks. The application code must be reviewed to ensure all user inputs are properly validated and sanitized before database operations. Security patches should be applied to update Xtreme Topsites to a version that addresses this vulnerability, as the original version 1.1 contains known weaknesses that have been documented in security advisories. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor for suspicious database query patterns and block known attack vectors. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack, ensuring comprehensive protection against database-related threats.