CVE-2008-0543 in Pre Dynamic Institution
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Pre Dynamic Institution allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) sloginid and (2) spass parameters to (a) login.asp and (b) siteadmin/login.asp. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0543 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Pre Dynamic Institution web application platform, exposing multiple attack vectors that enable remote code execution through malicious SQL commands. This vulnerability specifically affects the login.asp and siteadmin/login.asp pages where user authentication parameters are processed without proper input validation or sanitization mechanisms. The flaw manifests in two distinct parameter injection points: sloginid and spass, which are utilized for username and password authentication respectively. These parameters are directly incorporated into SQL query construction without appropriate escaping or parameterization, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard SQL injection attack patterns where attackers can manipulate the sloginid and spass parameters to inject malicious SQL code that bypasses authentication mechanisms. When these parameters are processed by the application's backend database layer, the unvalidated input is concatenated directly into SQL statements, allowing attackers to alter query logic and potentially extract, modify, or delete database records. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications, while the remote execution capability places this vulnerability within the ATT&CK framework under the T1190 technique for exploitation of remote services. The impact extends beyond simple authentication bypass to potentially enable full database compromise, data exfiltration, and system infiltration through the exploitation of these unsecured input handling mechanisms.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to institutional user accounts and potentially administrative privileges within the Pre Dynamic Institution platform. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized data access. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects core authentication pages that are frequently accessed by legitimate users, making detection and mitigation more challenging. Organizations utilizing this platform face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and potential service disruption. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires no special privileges or local access, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools and opportunistic attackers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0543 should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection exploitation. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied input, particularly authentication parameters, undergoes rigorous sanitization and validation before being processed by database systems. The recommended approach involves implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements that separate SQL code from data inputs, effectively preventing malicious SQL code injection. Additionally, input validation should include length restrictions, character set validation, and regular expression filtering to reject potentially harmful input patterns. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application architecture. The implementation of least privilege principles and comprehensive logging mechanisms will help detect and respond to exploitation attempts, while regular security patching and application updates are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in future versions of the platform.