CVE-2008-0232 in Zero CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Zero CMS 1.0 Alpha allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via (1) the id parameter to index.php, or the (2) f or t parameters to forums/index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0232 represents a critical security flaw in Zero CMS 1.0 Alpha that exposes the system to remote SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the content management system, specifically affecting two distinct entry points in the application's codebase. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into database queries through carefully crafted parameters, potentially leading to complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through two primary attack vectors that exploit improper parameter handling in different components of the CMS. The first vector targets the id parameter within the index.php file, while the second vector affects the f and t parameters in the forums/index.php component. Both attack paths demonstrate the same underlying flaw where user-supplied input is directly concatenated into SQL query strings without proper sanitization or parameterization. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation in web applications. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote attacker with access to the vulnerable system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary database commands with the privileges of the database user account. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, data exfiltration, modification of content, user account manipulation, and potentially the execution of malicious code on the server. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire CMS installation, as attackers could gain access to sensitive information including user credentials, database schemas, and application configuration details. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1071.005 for Application Layer Protocol and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access to the target environment and can be used as a stepping stone for further exploitation within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized before being incorporated into database operations. This approach directly addresses the root cause of the vulnerability and aligns with industry best practices for preventing SQL injection attacks. System administrators should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, while regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security frameworks such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, which emphasize the need for proper input validation and output encoding in web applications to prevent injection attacks.