CVE-2006-5322 in PHPList
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in phplist before 2.10.3 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5322 represents a critical security flaw in the phplist email newsletter management system prior to version 2.10.3. This vulnerability falls under the category of SQL injection attacks, which occur when an application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before incorporating it into SQL database queries. The affected phplist versions contain multiple entry points where malicious actors can inject arbitrary SQL commands through unspecified vectors, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the phplist application code. When users interact with the system through web forms or API endpoints, their input is not adequately sanitized before being processed by the backend database layer. This allows attackers to manipulate the intended SQL query execution by injecting malicious SQL code fragments that can alter the query logic, extract sensitive data, or even modify database structures. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple interfaces within the application may be susceptible to this attack pattern, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it provides multiple attack surfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Remote attackers who successfully exploit these SQL injection flaws can gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data including email addresses, personal information, and potentially administrative credentials stored within the phplist database. Beyond data extraction, attackers can modify database contents, delete records, or even escalate privileges within the system. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system or local network presence, making the vulnerability particularly attractive for widespread exploitation. Organizations using vulnerable phplist versions face significant risks of data breaches, compliance violations, and potential system compromise that could affect thousands of users and subscribers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should begin with immediate patching to phplist version 2.10.3 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to address the SQL injection flaws. System administrators should also implement input validation controls at multiple layers, including application-level sanitization of user inputs and database query parameterization to prevent malicious code injection. Network-level security measures such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious SQL injection patterns. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications, while database access controls should be implemented to limit the potential damage from successful attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect unusual query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a database attack vector under the technique of SQL injection, emphasizing the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in preventing such vulnerabilities.