CVE-2008-0789 in LI-Countdown
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in countdown.php in LI-Scripts LI-Countdown allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the years parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0789 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the LI-Scripts LI-Countdown application, specifically affecting the countdown.php script. This weakness resides in the improper handling of user-supplied input through the years parameter, which creates an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database server. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to adequately sanitize or validate input data before incorporating it into SQL query constructions, thereby exposing the system to unauthorized data access and manipulation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the years parameter in the countdown.php script. The application processes this input directly into SQL queries without proper input validation or parameterization, allowing attackers to craft SQL commands that can manipulate the database. This flaw falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization. The attack vector is classified as remote, meaning that malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability from external networks without requiring local system access or authentication credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0789 extends beyond simple data retrieval, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise including unauthorized data modification, deletion, or extraction of sensitive information. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, bypass authentication mechanisms, or even gain access to underlying operating system resources through database server misconfigurations. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the application's data, potentially exposing personal information, business data, or other sensitive content stored within the database. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1213.002 for data from information repositories, representing a significant threat to organizational security posture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent malicious SQL code execution. The most effective remediation includes sanitizing all user inputs through whitelisting validation, utilizing prepared statements with parameterized queries, and implementing proper database access controls. Organizations should also apply immediate patches or updates to the LI-Scripts LI-Countdown application, implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within their application portfolios. Additionally, database administrators should enforce principle of least privilege access controls and monitor database activities for suspicious query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in preventing database-related security breaches that can have cascading effects on overall system security.