CVE-2007-2824 in E-Friends
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in paypal.php in AlstraSoft E-Friends 4.21 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the pack parameter in a paypal action for index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2824 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the AlstraSoft E-Friends 4.21 web application, specifically affecting the paypal.php script. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-provided data within the application's payment processing workflow. The flaw is particularly concerning as it operates within the context of a payment handling script, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to compromise financial transaction data. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers SQL injection attacks as part of the exploitation phase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes the pack parameter through the paypal action in the index.php script. Attackers can manipulate this parameter to inject malicious SQL code that bypasses the application's normal input validation mechanisms. The flaw stems from the application's direct concatenation of user-supplied input into SQL query strings without proper parameterization or sanitization. This allows an attacker to craft specially formatted input that alters the intended execution flow of the database query, potentially enabling them to extract, modify, or delete sensitive data from the underlying database. The vulnerability demonstrates poor secure coding practices and represents a failure to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the database server. This level of access could enable unauthorized users to escalate privileges, gain access to customer payment information, manipulate transaction records, or even compromise the entire database infrastructure. The vulnerability affects all versions of AlstraSoft E-Friends up to and including version 4.21, indicating a widespread exposure across the affected user base. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged from anywhere on the internet. The potential for data breaches involving financial information makes this vulnerability especially critical for e-commerce applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2824 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent user input from being interpreted as SQL code. Organizations should upgrade to the latest version of AlstraSoft E-Friends where this vulnerability has been patched, as the vendor likely released a security update addressing the issue. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, conducting regular security audits of input handling mechanisms, and establishing comprehensive database access controls. The remediation process should also include input sanitization routines, output encoding, and proper error handling to prevent information leakage that could aid further exploitation attempts. Security professionals should also consider implementing database activity monitoring to detect anomalous SQL query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.