CVE-2006-4757 in e107
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the admin section in e107 0.7.5 allow remote authenticated administrative users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) linkopentype, (2) linkrender, (3) link_class, and (4) link_id parameters in (a) links.php; the (5) searchquery parameter in (b) users.php; and the (6) download_category_class parameter in (c) download.php. NOTE: an e107 developer has disputed the significance of the vulnerability, stating that "If your admins are injecting you, you might want to reconsider their access."
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4757 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the administrative components of e107 version 0.7.5, a widely used content management system. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative section of the platform, creating a pathway for authenticated administrative users to execute arbitrary SQL commands through multiple parameter manipulation points. The flaw exists across several core administrative files including links.php, users.php, and download.php, making it particularly dangerous as it affects fundamental content management operations. The vulnerability's classification as a SQL injection issue places it squarely within CWE-89, which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL queries into input data that is then executed by the database. This type of vulnerability represents a significant risk to database integrity and confidentiality, as it allows attackers to manipulate or extract sensitive information from the underlying database structure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through six distinct parameter injection points that operate within the administrative interface. The linkopentype, linkrender, link_class, and link_id parameters in links.php provide opportunities for attackers to manipulate link-related database queries, while the searchquery parameter in users.php allows for user search manipulation. Additionally, the download_category_class parameter in download.php creates another vector for database command injection. These parameters are processed without proper input sanitization or parameter binding, allowing maliciously crafted input to be directly interpreted as SQL commands by the database engine. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only authenticated administrative access, meaning that an attacker who has already compromised administrative credentials can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges or extract sensitive data from the system. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials and administrative access, combined with T1046, which addresses privilege escalation through command injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data extraction, as it allows for complete database manipulation through the administrative interface. An attacker with administrative privileges could potentially delete critical database entries, modify user permissions, access confidential information, or even establish persistent backdoors within the system. The fact that this vulnerability affects core administrative functionality means that it could compromise the entire content management system's integrity and availability. The e107 development team's response dismissing the vulnerability's significance highlights a critical misunderstanding of the threat landscape, as authenticated privilege escalation vulnerabilities remain extremely dangerous in practice. The assertion that "if your admins are injecting you, you might want to reconsider their access" overlooks the reality that administrative accounts can be compromised through various means including credential theft, social engineering, or exploitation of other system vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the principle that even within privileged access environments, proper input validation and sanitization are essential defensive measures. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple administrative files indicates a systemic flaw in the application's security architecture, suggesting that the development team may have failed to implement consistent security controls across the administrative interface.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries across all administrative endpoints. The solution must involve replacing direct SQL query construction with prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent malicious input from being interpreted as SQL commands. Additionally, comprehensive input sanitization should be implemented to ensure that all administrative parameters are properly validated before processing. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and monitoring within administrative interfaces to detect unusual activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of security-by-design principles and the critical need for regular security assessments of administrative interfaces. This issue demonstrates how even minor oversights in input validation can create significant security risks, particularly when they occur within privileged access points of a system. The vulnerability's classification as a privilege escalation vector through command injection aligns with ATT&CK techniques that focus on maintaining access and escalating privileges within compromised systems, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on e107 for content management operations.