CVE-2007-6469 in phpRPG
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in phpRPG 0.8, when magic_qutoes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6469 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the phpRPG 0.8 content management system. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php script and exploits a fundamental weakness in input validation mechanisms. The flaw becomes particularly dangerous when the magic_quotes_gpc directive is disabled on the web server, which removes automatic escaping of special characters in GET, POST, and COOKIE data. This configuration effectively disables the built-in php protection mechanism that would normally sanitize user input before database queries are executed.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the username parameter in the index.php script. When an attacker submits malicious sql code through this parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into database queries. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary sql commands that execute with the privileges of the database user account used by the phpRPG application. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into sql commands without proper validation or escaping.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform complete database compromise. An attacker could potentially extract sensitive user credentials, modify or delete database records, and in severe cases gain access to additional system resources through database-level privileges. The vulnerability affects the authentication mechanism of phpRPG, potentially allowing unauthorized access to user accounts and administrative functions. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that phpRPG was a web-based role-playing game platform that would have contained user-generated content and personal information.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access. The attack vector represents a classic example of how misconfigured server settings can compound application-level flaws into serious security breaches. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enabling magic_quotes_gpc, implementing proper input validation and sanitization, and using prepared statements or parameterized queries. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that all web applications properly handle user input and that server configurations do not disable essential protection mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of defense-in-depth strategies where multiple layers of security controls work together to protect against exploitation attempts.