CVE-2008-0262 in PhpAutoVideo
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in includes/articleblock.php in Agares PhpAutoVideo 2.21 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the articlecat parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0262 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Agares PhpAutoVideo 2.21 content management system. This vulnerability specifically affects the includes/articleblock.php file, which serves as a component responsible for displaying article content within the video management platform. The flaw arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the articlecat parameter through HTTP requests, allowing them to inject malicious SQL code that bypasses normal authentication and authorization controls. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities that enable attackers to manipulate database operations through improperly validated input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database server. This level of access enables malicious actors to perform unauthorized data manipulation, including data insertion, modification, and deletion operations. Attackers could potentially escalate their privileges to gain administrative control over the entire database system, extract sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, or proprietary content, and even compromise the integrity of the entire application. The remote nature of this attack vector means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard SQL injection attack patterns where the attacker crafts malicious input that alters the intended query execution flow. When the articlecat parameter is passed to the articleblock.php script, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into SQL statements. This allows attackers to inject SQL syntax that can manipulate the database query structure, potentially leading to unauthorized access to database tables, execution of administrative commands, or even remote code execution in some cases. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper parameterized queries and input sanitization techniques. Organizations implementing this software would be at significant risk of data breaches and system compromise, particularly if the database server runs with elevated privileges that could allow attackers to access additional system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization measures across all user-supplied parameters. The most effective approach involves implementing parameterized queries or prepared statements that separate SQL code from data, thereby preventing malicious input from being interpreted as executable SQL commands. Additionally, proper input validation should be implemented to reject or escape special characters that are commonly used in SQL injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, though these should be viewed as supplementary rather than primary defenses. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. The fix should involve updating the articleblock.php script to properly sanitize the articlecat parameter before processing it, ensuring that any potentially malicious input is neutralized before being used in database operations. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project and the Center for Internet Security.