CVE-2007-1847 in Repository module
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in viewcat.php in the Repository module for Xoops allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the cid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1847 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Repository module of the Xoops content management system. This weakness exists in the viewcat.php script which handles category viewing functionality, making it susceptible to exploitation by remote attackers who can manipulate the cid parameter to inject malicious SQL commands. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the application's database interaction layer, allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within the system's database.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection conditions where untrusted input is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The cid parameter in viewcat.php serves as the primary attack vector, where an attacker can craft malicious input that gets directly concatenated into SQL queries without appropriate escaping or validation. This allows threat actors to manipulate the database query structure and execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to data theft, modification, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for widely deployed systems.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations using Xoops with the affected Repository module. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract confidential information such as user credentials, database schemas, and sensitive content stored within the system. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as malicious actors can modify database contents, create backdoor accounts, or even escalate privileges within the application environment. Given that Xoops was commonly used for community websites and web applications, the potential attack surface includes numerous vulnerable installations that could be targeted. The remote exploit capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system and can launch attacks from anywhere on the internet, amplifying the security risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1847 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Xoops versions and implementation of proper input validation techniques. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like cid, undergo rigorous sanitization before being processed in database queries. The recommended approach involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks, along with input validation that rejects malformed or suspicious data patterns. Additionally, access controls should be reviewed to limit database privileges for application accounts, ensuring that even if an attack succeeds, the damage remains contained. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while regular security audits should verify that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the system. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing to ensure that the applied fixes do not break existing functionality while effectively addressing the SQL injection vulnerability.