CVE-2007-1931 in SmodCMS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in the slownik module in SmodCMS 2.10 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the ssid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1931 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the slownik module of SmodCMS version 2.10 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the index.php file and exploits the ssid parameter, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql queries. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly embedded into sql commands without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to the database backend of the affected cms system. Remote attackers can manipulate the database through the vulnerable ssid parameter to extract sensitive information, modify or delete data, and potentially escalate their privileges within the system. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local access or authentication to leverage the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the attack tree framework where adversaries can move from initial reconnaissance to privilege escalation through sql injection attacks. The attack surface is broad as any user interacting with the slownik module functionality could potentially trigger this vulnerability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites and can be accomplished through standard sql injection techniques. Attackers can craft malicious ssid parameter values containing sql payloads that bypass input validation and execute unintended database operations. The vulnerability demonstrates poor secure coding practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks. Organizations running affected versions of SmodCMS face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations due to the exposure of sensitive data through this vulnerability. The flaw represents a fundamental security weakness in the application's data handling mechanisms that violates core security principles of input validation and output encoding.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the affected SmodCMS versions to the latest releases that contain proper input validation and sanitization. Organizations should implement web application firewalls that can detect and block sql injection attempts targeting the specific vulnerable parameter. Database access controls should be implemented to limit the privileges of database accounts used by the web application, following the principle of least privilege. Input validation should be strengthened to reject or escape special sql characters in user-supplied parameters. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following secure coding guidelines such as those outlined in the owasp top ten and iso 27001 standards for application security. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of database access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts and provide forensic evidence for incident response activities.