CVE-2006-4328 in Links Manager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in admin.php in CloudNine Interactive Links Manager 2006-06-12, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the nick parameter.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4328 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the CloudNine Interactive Links Manager version dated 2006-06-12. This security weakness specifically targets the administrative interface component known as admin.php, which processes user input through the nick parameter. The vulnerability manifests when the PHP configuration directive magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, a common scenario in many web server environments where input sanitization is handled programmatically rather than through server-level escaping mechanisms. The absence of automatic quote escaping creates an exploitable condition where malicious input can bypass normal validation procedures and directly influence database query execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through careful crafting of the nick parameter value to inject malicious SQL syntax into the database query structure. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, user-supplied input flows directly into SQL statements without automatic escaping of special characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or comment markers. Attackers can leverage this weakness to manipulate database operations by injecting SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the database user associated with the web application. This allows for unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, potentially leading to complete database compromise and unauthorized administrative access to the links management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or corruption, as it provides attackers with a pathway to establish persistent access within the affected environment. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive information including user credentials, administrative access details, or other confidential data stored within the database. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire links management system, potentially compromising the trustworthiness of the managed links and exposing the underlying infrastructure to further attacks. Organizations relying on this software without proper input validation mechanisms face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization procedures. The primary defense involves enabling magic_quotes_gpc or implementing comprehensive parameterized queries and prepared statements to prevent injection attacks. Additionally, input validation should be enforced at multiple levels including application code, database layer, and web application firewall configurations. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities throughout the application codebase. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection flaws as critical weaknesses in software security, and corresponds to techniques outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1190 category for exploitation of remote services through SQL injection attacks. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and privilege management to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.