CVE-2008-0270 in TaskFreak
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in TaskFreak! 0.6.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the sContext parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The CVE-2008-0270 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in TaskFreak! version 0.6.1 and earlier, where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into sql queries. This vulnerability specifically affects the index.php script and targets the sContext parameter, which is used to determine the context of user actions within the task management application. The flaw allows authenticated users to manipulate the sql query execution flow by injecting malicious sql code through the sContext parameter, potentially enabling unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization practices within the TaskFreak! application code. When the sContext parameter is processed, the application directly incorporates user-supplied values into sql statements without proper escaping or parameterization. This design flaw aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-89, which categorizes sql injection vulnerabilities as a fundamental security issue in application development. The vulnerability is classified as a remote authenticated attack vector because it requires an attacker to have valid user credentials to exploit the flaw, but once authenticated, the malicious user can leverage the vulnerability to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using TaskFreak! versions prior to 0.6.2. An attacker with legitimate user access can potentially extract sensitive information from the database including user credentials, task details, project data, and other confidential business information. The vulnerability could also enable attackers to modify or delete critical task management data, disrupt workflow processes, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers would need to first compromise legitimate user credentials through social engineering, credential stuffing, or other means, but once inside the system, they can leverage this vulnerability to perform extensive database manipulation.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to include potential privilege escalation and persistent backdoor establishment within the application environment. According to the attack technique framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command injection and data manipulation within web applications. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for TaskFreak! version 0.6.2 or later, which addresses the input sanitization issue. Additionally, implementing proper sql query parameterization, input validation, and output encoding practices would prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other applications. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual sql query patterns and unauthorized database access attempts, while network segmentation and access control measures can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.