CVE-2007-4603 in ACG News
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in index.php in ACG News 1.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via (1) the aid parameter in a showarticle action or (2) the catid parameter in a showcat action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4603 affects ACG News 1.0, a content management system that suffers from multiple SQL injection flaws in its index.php file. This vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database through crafted input parameters. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes user-supplied data without proper sanitization or validation, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-89 SQL Injection as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which classifies it as a direct injection flaw where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without adequate protection mechanisms.
The technical exploitation occurs through two distinct attack vectors within the application's parameter handling. The first vulnerability involves the aid parameter during a showarticle action, while the second targets the catid parameter in a showcat action. Both scenarios demonstrate how the application fails to properly escape or validate user input before incorporating it into database queries. When an attacker manipulates these parameters, the application constructs SQL statements that include the malicious input directly, allowing the attacker to execute unauthorized database operations. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including data extraction, modification, or deletion, potentially leading to complete database compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and gain deeper system access. Remote attackers can leverage these SQL injection flaws to bypass authentication mechanisms, access restricted database content, and potentially execute arbitrary code on the server hosting the vulnerable application. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or network proximity to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in internet-facing applications. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190, this represents a technique for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications, specifically targeting the execution of unauthorized commands through database manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4603 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. The most effective approach involves using prepared statements with parameterized queries, which ensure that user input is treated as literal data rather than executable code. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization, output encoding, and least privilege database access controls can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process must include comprehensive code review to ensure all user inputs are properly validated and escaped before database interaction, addressing the root cause rather than merely patching symptoms.