CVE-2007-4881 in Social Networking Script Psisns
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in profile/myprofile.php in psi-labs.com social networking script (psisns), probably 1.0, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the u parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4881 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the psisns social networking script developed by psi-labs.com. This vulnerability specifically affects version 1.0 of the software and resides in the profile/myprofile.php file, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise the underlying database infrastructure. The flaw manifests through the u parameter which is improperly handled during user profile retrieval operations, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary SQL commands directly against the database server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the psisns application. When users access profile information through the myprofile.php script, the u parameter containing user identifiers is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper escaping or parameterization. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is concatenated into SQL commands without appropriate sanitization. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through HTTP requests that manipulate the u parameter to inject malicious SQL payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass full database compromise capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential user information including usernames, passwords, personal details, and potentially administrative credentials stored within the database. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network presence, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for online social networking platforms that store large volumes of personal user data. This weakness creates opportunities for credential theft, data manipulation, and potential lateral movement within network environments where the social networking platform is deployed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries within the psisns application. The most effective approach involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL command structure from user input data, thereby preventing malicious input from being interpreted as executable SQL code. Additionally, comprehensive input sanitization measures should be deployed to filter and validate all user-supplied data before processing, including implementing proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, while conducting regular security audits and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application stack. This vulnerability serves as a classic example of why secure coding practices and adherence to established security frameworks such as the OWASP Top Ten are essential for preventing database-related security incidents in web applications.