CVE-2008-0811 in AuraCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in AuraCMS 1.62 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via (1) the kid parameter to (a) mod/dl.php or (b) mod/links.php, and (2) the query parameter to search.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0811 represents a critical security flaw in AuraCMS version 1.62 that exposes the content management system to remote SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's handling of user-supplied data, creating exploitable entry points that malicious actors can leverage to execute unauthorized database operations. The flaw specifically affects two distinct modules within the CMS architecture, demonstrating the widespread nature of the input validation failure across different functional components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary attack vectors that utilize different parameter names and script locations. The first vector involves the kid parameter within the mod/dl.php and mod/links.php modules, while the second vector targets the query parameter in the search.php file. These locations represent different pathways through which attacker-controlled input can be directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is concatenated into SQL commands, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services through SQL injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data retrieval, as successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. This capability enables a range of malicious activities including unauthorized data access, data modification, data deletion, and potentially complete database compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, and system configurations, while also gaining the ability to modify or delete content within the CMS. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications.
The exploitation process involves crafting malicious input that bypasses normal input validation mechanisms and injects additional SQL syntax into the targeted parameters. When the vulnerable application processes these inputs, the injected SQL commands are executed with the privileges of the database user account used by the CMS, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability's impact is exacerbated by the fact that it affects core functionality modules such as download and links management, as well as search capabilities that are frequently used by both legitimate users and attackers. Organizations utilizing this version of AuraCMS face significant risk of data breaches and system compromise, with the potential for extended persistence through database-level modifications that could be difficult to detect and remediate. Mitigation efforts should focus on immediate patching of the CMS to address the input validation deficiencies, alongside implementation of proper parameterized queries and input sanitization mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other application components.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and parameterized query construction in web applications. It highlights how seemingly minor oversights in data handling can create pathways for significant security breaches, particularly in content management systems that handle user-generated content and database interactions. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability as part of broader application security assessments and ensure that all user inputs are properly validated and sanitized before being incorporated into database operations. The remediation approach must include not only immediate patching but also comprehensive security reviews of the application's data handling procedures to prevent similar injection vulnerabilities from existing in other components of the system architecture.