CVE-2007-6498 in Hosting Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Hosting Controller 6.1 Hot fix 3.3 and earlier allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) email and (2) loginname parameters to Hosting/Addreseller.asp, (3) the sortfield parameter to accounts/accountmanager.asp, (4) the GateWayID parameter to OpenApi/GatewayVariables.asp, and possibly (5) unspecified vectors to IIS/iibind.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-6498 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Hosting Controller 6.1 Hot fix 3.3 and earlier versions. This vulnerability resides within the web application's handling of user-supplied input parameters, specifically targeting multiple ASP pages that process administrative functions. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to manipulate database queries through carefully crafted input, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core administrative functions of the hosting platform, providing attackers with elevated privileges to manipulate user accounts and system configurations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and parameter sanitization within several key application components. The affected parameters include email and loginname in Hosting/Addreseller.asp which are directly incorporated into SQL query strings without proper escaping or parameterization. Similarly, the sortfield parameter in accounts/accountmanager.asp and GateWayID parameter in OpenApi/GatewayVariables.asp demonstrate the same insecure coding practices where user input flows directly into database operations. The IIS/iibind.asp component is flagged as potentially vulnerable, suggesting broader impact across the application's interface handling mechanisms. This pattern of insecure database query construction aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is concatenated into SQL commands without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it enables attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive hosting infrastructure. Authenticated users can leverage these injection points to manipulate account data, potentially gaining access to other users' accounts, modifying billing information, or even executing administrative commands. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of hosting management, making it particularly attractive to attackers targeting hosting providers who may use this access to compromise multiple customer accounts simultaneously. Attackers could also potentially use this vulnerability to extract sensitive information such as database credentials, user passwords, or system configurations that would otherwise be protected by proper access controls. The presence of multiple attack vectors increases the overall risk surface and provides attackers with multiple opportunities to achieve successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the affected application components. The most effective immediate solution involves replacing direct string concatenation of user input with proper parameterized SQL queries or stored procedures that separate the SQL command structure from the data being processed. All affected ASP pages should undergo comprehensive code review to ensure that no user-controllable parameters are directly incorporated into database commands without proper sanitization. Additionally, implementing proper authentication and authorization controls, along with input length restrictions and character set validation, would significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, while establishing regular security auditing processes to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy codebases. The remediation approach should align with defensive programming principles and security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, ensuring that similar vulnerabilities are prevented in future development cycles.