CVE-2006-4705 in Timesheet.php
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in login.php in dwayner79 and Dominic Gamble Timesheet (aka Timesheet.php) 1.2.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4705 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Timesheet.php application version 1.2.1 developed by dwayner79 and Dominic Gamble. This security weakness specifically affects the login.php component of the timesheet system, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability resides in how the application processes user authentication requests, particularly when handling the username parameter during the login sequence.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the login.php script. When a user attempts to log in, the application directly incorporates the username parameter into SQL query construction without proper escaping or parameterization mechanisms. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code through the username field, potentially bypassing authentication mechanisms entirely. The vulnerability manifests as a classic blind SQL injection attack vector where attacker-controlled input is concatenated directly into database queries, enabling unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations utilizing the affected timesheet application. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to employee timesheet data, potentially exposing sensitive payroll information, work hour records, and personal employee details. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers may also escalate privileges, modify database structures, or even execute system commands if the database server permits such operations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or network credentials to leverage this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. This classification indicates that the flaw represents a fundamental weakness in input handling that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers the exploitation of vulnerabilities in applications to gain unauthorized access to systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it targets the authentication mechanism, which serves as the primary gateway for legitimate users while simultaneously providing an entry point for malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate code remediation through proper input validation and parameterized query implementation. Organizations should implement input sanitization measures that escape or filter special characters commonly used in SQL injection attacks such as single quotes, semicolons, and comment markers. The recommended approach involves adopting prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input is treated as data rather than executable code. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and database permissions can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, while regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components.