CVE-2007-4112 in Advanced Webhost Billing System
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Advanced Webhost Billing System (AWBS) before 2.6.0, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors. NOTE: this can be leveraged for XSS attacks that "bypass AWBS s anti-XSS input validation."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2017
The Advanced Webhost Billing System AWBS version 2.6.0 and earlier contains multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities that represent a critical security flaw in web application architecture. These vulnerabilities specifically manifest when the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, creating a dangerous environment where malicious input can be directly interpreted as SQL commands without proper sanitization. The vulnerability affects the core billing system functionality that processes user inputs through various application interfaces, making it a significant threat to web hosting environments that rely on this software for customer management and billing operations.
The technical implementation of these vulnerabilities stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the AWBS codebase. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the system fails to properly escape special characters in user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query structures. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL payloads that can manipulate the underlying database through various attack vectors including form submissions, URL parameters, and API endpoints. The vulnerability operates at the database interaction layer where user inputs are directly concatenated into SQL statements without proper parameterization or escaping mechanisms. This flaw aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of unsafe query construction where dynamic SQL is built using user-controllable input without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple database manipulation to include complete system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers can leverage these SQL injection flaws to extract sensitive customer information including billing details, personal identification data, and administrative credentials stored within the database. The vulnerability's ability to bypass the system's anti-XSS input validation creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can simultaneously exploit both SQL injection and cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. This dual exploitation capability allows for more sophisticated attack chains where initial database access can be followed by persistent XSS payloads that maintain access through user browser sessions. The vulnerability can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1190 for exploit public-facing application, demonstrating how attackers can leverage web application flaws to establish persistent access to hosting environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of multiple security controls including immediate software upgrades to version 2.6.0 or later, which presumably contains the necessary patches to address these injection flaws. System administrators must ensure that magic_quotes_gpc is enabled at the PHP configuration level, though this should be supplemented with proper input validation and parameterized queries. The recommended approach involves implementing proper database query parameterization techniques using prepared statements or stored procedures to prevent user input from being interpreted as SQL commands. Additionally, comprehensive input sanitization should be implemented at all application entry points including form handlers, API endpoints, and URL parameter processors. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense, while regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the dangers of relying on server configuration settings for security protection, emphasizing the need for defense-in-depth strategies in web application security.