CVE-2007-1607 in w-Agora
Summary
by MITRE
search.php in w-Agora (Web-Agora) allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information via a ' (quote) value followed by certain SQL sequences in the (1) search_forum or (2) search_user parameter, which force a SQL error.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1607 affects w-Agora, a web-based discussion forum application, through its search.php script that processes user input for forum and user searches. This flaw represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability that enables remote attackers to extract sensitive information from the underlying database through carefully crafted malicious input sequences. The vulnerability specifically manifests when attackers provide a quote character followed by particular SQL sequences in either the search_forum or search_user parameters, causing the application to generate SQL errors that inadvertently reveal database structure information and potentially sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper SQL query construction within the search functionality of w-Agora. When user-supplied input containing a quote character is processed without proper sanitization or parameterization, the SQL parser encounters malformed queries that trigger error messages. These error messages, which are typically suppressed in production environments, can be exploited to extract database schema information, table names, column structures, and potentially even user credentials or other sensitive data. The vulnerability operates under CWE-89 which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, specifically targeting the lack of proper input sanitization mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using w-Agora as their primary discussion platform. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to perform reconnaissance activities against the database infrastructure, potentially identifying critical system components and data structures that could facilitate more advanced attacks. The information disclosure aspect of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which covers data from information repositories, making it particularly dangerous for environments where sensitive user data, forum content, or administrative information might be exposed through error messages. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the extracted database schema information could enable attackers to craft more sophisticated injection attacks against other application components.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should immediately update to patched versions of w-Agora where available, or implement input sanitization measures that properly escape or filter special characters including quotes before processing user input. Additionally, implementing proper error handling that prevents database error messages from being exposed to end users is crucial. The fix should align with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten 2017 category A03:2017 which emphasizes the importance of preventing injection flaws through proper input validation and parameterized queries. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other application components, particularly given that this vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in how user input is processed and integrated into database queries.