CVE-2006-3525 in PHCDownload
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in category.php in PHCDownload 1.0.0 Final and 1.0.0 Release Candidate 6 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3525 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PHCDownload content management system version 1.0.0 Final and Release Candidate 6 or earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the category.php script which processes user input through the id parameter, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database queries. The flaw resides in the application's failure to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL command structures, thereby allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code that executes with the privileges of the database user account.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a widespread and dangerous flaw that occurs when user input is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. This particular implementation weakness enables attackers to manipulate the id parameter in category.php to inject arbitrary SQL commands that bypass normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where the web application fails to implement proper input validation and output encoding techniques that would normally prevent such injection attacks. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even escalate privileges within the database system itself.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides remote attackers with unrestricted access to the underlying database without requiring authentication. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to perform unauthorized data retrieval, including user credentials, personal information, and system configuration details. The vulnerability also enables potential data corruption or deletion operations that could compromise the integrity and availability of the entire application. Additionally, successful exploitation may allow attackers to establish persistent access points or escalate privileges to gain administrative control over the database system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.005 Application Layer Protocol and T1566.001 Phishing, as attackers can use the compromised system to further their operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3525 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected PHCDownload versions to address the root cause of the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent user input from being interpreted as SQL commands. The implementation of web application firewalls and input sanitization mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns or suspicious query executions that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper database access controls, including principle of least privilege and regular security updates to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.