CVE-2007-4056 in Adult Directory
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in directory.php in Prozilla Adult Directory allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the cat_id parameter in a list action. NOTE: the original report indicated that this was the "photo" SourceForge project (aka Maan Bsat Photo Collection), but that was incorrect.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4056 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Prozilla Adult Directory web application, specifically affecting the directory.php script. This security weakness resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the cat_id parameter when processing list actions, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database queries. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and sanitization that has been documented in numerous security assessments and remains a persistent threat in web application security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate the cat_id parameter before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. When a remote attacker submits a maliciously crafted cat_id value, the application directly concatenates this input into database queries without adequate sanitization measures. This allows attackers to inject additional SQL commands that can manipulate the database structure, extract sensitive information, modify data, or even gain unauthorized access to the underlying database system. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk weakness in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potentially complete control over the affected database. An attacker could exploit this weakness to extract user credentials, personal information, or other sensitive data stored within the directory application. The implications are particularly severe given that this is an adult directory application, which likely contains personal information and potentially compromising data. Additionally, the vulnerability enables attackers to modify or delete content, potentially disrupting the service or defacing the application. This type of attack aligns with the techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1190 tactic for Exploit Public-Facing Application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries. The application should employ prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input is properly separated from SQL command structures. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization, output encoding, and least privilege database access controls would significantly reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing, should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the application's codebase. The remediation efforts should also include implementing web application firewalls and input validation layers to prevent malicious payloads from reaching the vulnerable application components, as recommended by industry best practices for preventing SQL injection attacks.