CVE-2006-3296 in Open Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in view.php in Open Guestbook 0.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the offset parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3296 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Open Guestbook 0.5 web application, specifically affecting the view.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the offset parameter, which is improperly validated and sanitized before being incorporated into sql queries. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the application's database interactions by injecting malicious sql code through the offset parameter, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data or executing arbitrary database operations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 sql injection, which is a well-documented weakness that has been consistently ranked among the top security risks in the owasp top ten project.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a malicious value through the offset parameter in the view.php script. The application fails to properly escape or validate this input before incorporating it into sql statements, creating an environment where sql commands can be injected and executed with the privileges of the web application's database user. This type of injection can lead to complete database compromise, data exfiltration, and potentially full system compromise if the database user has elevated privileges. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands, meaning they can perform any operation that the database user permissions allow, including reading, modifying, or deleting data, and potentially even executing operating system commands if the database server configuration permits such operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can result in complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential guestbook entries, user credentials, and potentially other database contents that may contain personal information or business data. The vulnerability affects all installations of Open Guestbook 0.5 that are accessible over the network, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are exposed to untrusted networks. This type of vulnerability is categorized under the attack technique of command injection within the mitre att&ck framework, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through database interfaces. Organizations running this vulnerable software face significant risk of data breaches, compliance violations, and potential legal consequences due to the exposure of sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3296 should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of security patches provided by the software vendor or through the implementation of input validation and sanitization measures. The most effective approach involves properly escaping or parameterizing all user-supplied input before incorporating it into sql queries, which prevents malicious sql code from being executed. Organizations should implement proper input validation techniques, including whitelisting acceptable input values and using prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input is treated as data rather than executable code. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable applications to untrusted networks, while regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege when configuring database access permissions.