CVE-2006-4056 in Address Book Reloaded
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the authentication process in katzlbt (a) The Address Book 1.04e and earlier and (b) The Address Book Reloaded before 2.0-rc4 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) username or (2) password parameters. NOTE: portions of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4056 represents a critical security flaw in the authentication mechanisms of two distinct versions of the katzlbt address book software. This issue affects both The Address Book 1.04e and earlier versions, as well as The Address Book Reloaded before version 2.0-rc4, creating a significant attack surface for remote threat actors. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the authentication process, specifically targeting the username and password parameters that are essential for user access control. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands directly through these authentication fields, potentially compromising the entire system's security infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which describes SQL injection flaws occurring when user-provided data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. In this case, the authentication parameters username and password are processed through SQL queries without adequate input filtering, creating an environment where malicious actors can manipulate database operations. The attack vector operates entirely through the authentication interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone attempting to log into the system. When an attacker submits specially crafted SQL commands through these parameters, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input, allowing the malicious code to execute within the database context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database. This level of access can enable threat actors to extract sensitive user data, modify database contents, create new user accounts, or even escalate privileges within the system. The implications are particularly severe for address book applications that may contain personal contact information, business data, or other sensitive details that could be exploited for identity theft, social engineering attacks, or further network infiltration. The vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental security model of the application by allowing remote code execution through legitimate authentication pathways.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate code-level fixes and broader architectural security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to ensure that user-supplied data cannot be interpreted as SQL commands. This approach aligns with defensive programming practices recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and follows the principle of least privilege in database access. Organizations should immediately update to patched versions of the affected software where available, and implement additional security measures such as input sanitization, query parameterization, and comprehensive logging of authentication attempts. Network-level protections including firewall rules and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input handling in authentication systems, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1190 which covers SQL injection attacks targeting authentication mechanisms.