CVE-2008-0733 in Counter Strike Portal
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in CS Team Counter Strike Portals allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter, as demonstrated using the downloads page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0733 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the cs team counter strike portals software ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php script which serves as a central component for handling various portal functionalities including downloads and user interactions. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the id parameter, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate database queries directly through web requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter handling within the portal's backend processing logic. When users navigate to the downloads page or other sections utilizing the index.php script, the id parameter becomes susceptible to manipulation without proper sanitization measures. This weakness directly aligns with common weakness enumeration cwes 89 and 20, which categorize sql injection vulnerabilities as fundamental flaws in application security where user-supplied data is improperly integrated into sql command strings. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious sql payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even gain unauthorized administrative access to the portal infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0733 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with potentially complete control over the affected portal's database layer. Remote execution capabilities enable threat actors to perform unauthorized data access operations including retrieving user credentials, personal information, and portal configuration details. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise where attackers may escalate privileges, install backdoors, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. Additionally, the portal's functionality may be disrupted through data corruption or deletion operations that can severely impact legitimate users and portal administrators.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized query execution practices. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to filter malicious sql payloads and implement proper output encoding to prevent injection attacks from succeeding. The most effective remediation involves updating the affected portal software to versions that properly sanitize all user inputs through prepared statements or parameterized queries as recommended by the open web application security project owasp. Security assessments should include regular penetration testing to identify similar injection vulnerabilities across all web applications and database interfaces. Furthermore, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security audits can help reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web application security and aligns with attack technique id t1190 from the attack tactics and techniques framework which specifically addresses sql injection methods used by adversaries to compromise database systems.