CVE-2006-7101 in PHPWind
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in admin.php in PHPWind 5.0.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the AdminUser cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-7101 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the phpwind content management system version 5.0.1 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the admin.php administrative script where user authentication and authorization mechanisms are handled. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate input data from the AdminUser cookie parameter, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to inject malicious sql commands directly into the database layer. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category of CWE-89 sql injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability due to its potential for unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker manipulates the AdminUser cookie value to include malicious sql payloads that bypass normal input validation procedures. Since the cookie is typically used to maintain administrative session state and user privileges, an attacker who successfully injects sql commands can potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive administrative functions, or execute arbitrary database operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote code execution without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise entire web applications. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its administrative interface, where the cookie value should be treated as untrusted input that requires proper sanitization before being processed by the database engine.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification to encompass complete system compromise and potential data destruction. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain administrative access to the phpwind installation, potentially leading to unauthorized user account creation, modification of website content, data exfiltration, or even complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including phpwind 5.0.1, representing a significant security gap that could be exploited across numerous web applications running this software. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the mitre att&ck framework under the privilege escalation and persistence tactics, where attackers can establish long-term access through administrative control of the web application.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to phpwind version 5.0.2 or later, which contains patches addressing this specific sql injection flaw. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other parts of the application. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against sql injection attacks. Security monitoring should include checking for unusual database access patterns and unauthorized administrative activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper cookie management and session handling practices, where sensitive authentication data should never be trusted without proper validation and sanitization. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify other potential sql injection vulnerabilities within their phpwind installations and ensure that all input parameters are properly validated before being processed by database queries.