CVE-2008-0422 in boastMachine
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in mail.php in boastMachine (aka bMachine) 3.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0422 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the boastMachine content management system version 3.1 and earlier. This issue resides in the mail.php script which processes user input through the id parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database queries. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection conditions where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. This weakness enables attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the mail.php component of the bMachine application. When the id parameter is passed to the script, it is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization measures. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that alters the intended query structure, allowing them to inject additional SQL commands. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user-supplied data flows directly into database operations, violating fundamental security principles of input validation and parameterized queries. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 which addresses exploit public-facing applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with comprehensive database access capabilities. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive user credentials, personal information, and application data stored in the database. The vulnerability also permits attackers to modify or delete database records, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to administrative functions. Given that boastMachine was a web-based content management system, this vulnerability would have affected websites relying on the platform for content management and user interaction, making it a significant threat to web application security. The widespread use of such CMS platforms in the late 2000s meant that numerous websites were potentially exposed to this attack vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0422 should focus on immediate patching of the affected bMachine versions, with the implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries as core defensive measures. Organizations should ensure that all user input is properly sanitized and validated before being incorporated into database queries. The recommended approach involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent malicious SQL code injection. Additionally, input filtering should be implemented at multiple layers including application firewall rules and web application security controls. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious database query patterns and unusual data access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in web applications. This case study demonstrates the importance of adhering to secure coding standards and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against SQL injection attacks that remain prevalent in modern web application security landscapes.