CVE-2007-3840 in Sitetrafficstats
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in referralUrl.php in Traffic Stats allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the offset parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3840 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the referralUrl.php component of the Traffic Stats application. This vulnerability specifically targets the offset parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the application's database layer. The flaw resides in the application's improper handling of user-supplied input, where the offset parameter is directly incorporated into sql query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization measures. Such insecure coding practices create an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database operations through crafted malicious input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic sql injection attack vector where the offset parameter functions as a direct conduit for sql command injection. When an attacker provides malicious input through the offset parameter, the application processes this input without proper validation or escaping mechanisms, enabling the execution of unauthorized database commands. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote attacker. The impact extends beyond simple data retrieval to include potential data modification, deletion, or unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the database. This weakness aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities, and represents a fundamental failure in input validation and secure coding practices.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing the Traffic Stats application, as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to potentially sensitive statistical data and user information. The remote execution capability means that attackers can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, leading to data breaches, information disclosure, and potential system-wide compromise. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by its location within traffic statistics functionality, which typically processes large volumes of user data and may contain sensitive information about user behavior and navigation patterns. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to gain insights into user activities or extract valuable data for malicious purposes.
The recommended mitigation strategies for this vulnerability encompass multiple layers of defensive measures to address the root cause and prevent exploitation. Immediate remediation requires implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to ensure that user-supplied data cannot influence sql command structure. The offset parameter should be validated against expected input ranges and types, with any anomalous input being rejected or properly escaped before database interaction. Organizations should implement proper database access controls and privilege management to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security code reviews and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar insecure coding patterns throughout the application. The remediation approach should follow established security frameworks and best practices, including adherence to secure coding standards such as those outlined in the owasp top ten and mitre attack framework, particularly focusing on defensive techniques against sql injection attacks. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional monitoring and blocking capabilities, though they should not be relied upon as the sole defense mechanism.