CVE-2006-2697 in Easy-Content Forums
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Easy-Content Forums 1.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) startletter parameter in userview.asp and the (2) forumname parameter in topics.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-2697 represents a critical security flaw in Easy-Content Forums version 1.0, specifically targeting SQL injection attack vectors that enable remote code execution. This vulnerability affects two distinct parameters within the forum's web application interface, creating multiple entry points for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database infrastructure. The presence of SQL injection vulnerabilities in web applications constitutes a fundamental weakness that directly violates secure coding practices and exposes systems to unauthorized data access and manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's ASP scripts. The startletter parameter in userview.asp and the forumname parameter in topics.asp fail to properly filter or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed within the database context, potentially enabling full database compromise. According to CWE-89, this represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability where insufficient sanitization of user inputs leads to unauthorized database access. The flaw operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the database communication interface where user input directly influences query execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands and potentially gain deeper system access. Remote attackers can leverage these injection points to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and forum configuration details. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web-hosted applications. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in remote services to gain unauthorized access. The potential for privilege escalation exists if database accounts have elevated permissions, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire database servers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries. The most effective remediation involves converting all dynamic SQL queries to use parameterized or prepared statements that separate user input from SQL command structures. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization routines and output encoding can prevent malicious payloads from being executed. Security measures should include web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious SQL patterns and regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in the codebase. Organizations should also implement principle of least privilege for database accounts, ensuring that application database users have minimal required permissions to reduce the impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper error handling in preventing database injection attacks, as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and other security standards that emphasize the need for secure coding practices in web application development.