CVE-2007-4332 in Article Dashboard
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in article.php in Article Dashboard, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter in a print action. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2017
This vulnerability represents a classic sql injection flaw in the article.php script of the Article Dashboard application where the id parameter in the print action is improperly sanitized. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the php configuration setting magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, which removes the automatic escaping of special characters that would normally protect against sql injection attacks. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious sql code through the id parameter, potentially enabling them to execute arbitrary database commands and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-89 sql injection as defined by the common weakness enumeration framework, which categorizes it as a direct injection of sql commands into database queries. The attack vector operates through the print action functionality where user input is directly incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the application fails to automatically escape single quotes, double quotes, and other special sql characters that could be used to manipulate the sql query structure. This vulnerability directly maps to the attack technique T1190 exploitation for execution within the attack chain as defined by the mitre ATT&CK framework, where adversaries exploit input validation weaknesses to execute malicious commands. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft as it could enable attackers to modify, delete, or extract all database contents, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation and output encoding practices, where the application trusts user input without proper sanitization mechanisms. Organizations using this application face significant risk exposure when the magic_quotes_gpc setting is disabled, as this configuration is common in modern php installations where this deprecated feature has been removed. The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker who gains access to the application's interface and navigates to the print action with a maliciously crafted id parameter. The lack of proper input validation and the absence of parameterized queries creates an environment where sql injection attacks can succeed without requiring complex exploitation techniques. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages a fundamental misconfiguration rather than requiring advanced attack vectors, making it accessible to attackers with basic sql injection knowledge. The exploitation process typically involves appending sql payload syntax to the id parameter that manipulates the underlying query structure to extract or modify database records. This vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation, parameterized queries, and secure coding practices in web applications to prevent sql injection attacks. The remediation approach should focus on enabling proper input sanitization through parameterized queries or prepared statements, ensuring that user input is never directly concatenated into sql queries. Additionally, maintaining proper php configuration settings and implementing robust application-level input validation can prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the potential consequences of relying on deprecated security mechanisms like magic_quotes_gpc that have been removed from modern php versions.