CVE-2008-0159 in eggBlog
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in eggBlog 3.1.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the eggblogpassword parameter in a cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2024
The CVE-2008-0159 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the eggBlog content management system version 3.1.0 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php script and exploits improper input validation mechanisms when processing the eggblogpassword parameter embedded within http cookies. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious sql code directly into the application's database layer without requiring authentication or prior access to the system. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into sql queries, creating an exploitable path for malicious actors to manipulate database operations.
This vulnerability operates under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a fundamental flaw in application security where untrusted data is directly concatenated into sql commands without proper sanitization. The attack vector specifically leverages cookie-based input manipulation, making it particularly insidious as it can be executed through standard web browser interactions without requiring specialized tools or deep system knowledge. The eggblogpassword parameter serves as the primary injection point, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even execute destructive operations on the underlying database system. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the core authentication mechanism of the blog system, potentially providing attackers with complete administrative control over the affected installation.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple data theft or modification to encompass full system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can leverage the sql injection to escalate privileges, access confidential user information, manipulate blog content, or establish persistent backdoors within the affected system. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that lack proper network segmentation or intrusion detection measures. Organizations running affected versions of eggBlog face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations if the vulnerability remains unpatched. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation practices that are commonly found in legacy web applications, highlighting the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0159 primarily focus on immediate patching of the affected eggBlog installations to version 3.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks at the code level, as recommended by the owasp sql injection prevention cheat sheet. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular security auditing and input validation testing should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security monitoring practices. From an att&ck framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to tactics including credential access and privilege escalation, with techniques such as sql injection and command execution being directly applicable to the exploitation scenario. Organizations should also consider implementing cookie security measures including secure flags and httponly attributes to reduce the attack surface for cookie-based exploitation methods.