CVE-2008-1408 in phpBP
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in includes/functions/banners-external.php in phpBP 2 RC3 (2.204) FIX 4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter in a banner_out action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1408 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the phpBP content management system version 2 RC3 build 2.204 FIX 4. This vulnerability specifically affects the includes/functions/banners-external.php file and manifests when the banner_out action is executed with an id parameter. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious sql commands directly into the application's database layer, potentially compromising the entire system infrastructure. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of cwe-89 sql injection as defined by the common weakness enumeration framework, where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into sql queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it allows remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker with network access to the vulnerable system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the banner-external.php script. When processing the id parameter through the banner_out action, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql query construction. This creates an environment where malicious sql payloads can be executed directly against the backend database, potentially allowing attackers to extract sensitive information, modify database contents, or even escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability demonstrates poor secure coding practices and violates fundamental principles of input validation and output encoding that are essential for preventing sql injection attacks. The specific nature of the flaw aligns with attack techniques categorized under the attack pattern taxonomy as a direct sql injection method where attacker-controlled data flows directly into sql command execution contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to potentially enable complete system takeover. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to access sensitive user data, including personal information and credentials stored in the database. The vulnerability also poses significant risks to system integrity and availability, as attackers could modify or delete critical banner content, disrupt service availability, or establish persistent backdoors through database manipulation. Organizations running vulnerable versions of phpBP face substantial risk exposure, particularly in environments where the system handles sensitive data or serves as a critical business component. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or prior authentication, making it a particularly dangerous threat vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1408 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-supplied patch or upgrade to a non-vulnerable version of phpBP, as this directly resolves the underlying sql injection flaw. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout their applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before database interaction. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against sql injection attempts. Security practitioners should also conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase and establish secure coding standards that prevent such flaws from reoccurring. The implementation of least privilege database access controls and regular security assessments will further reduce the potential impact of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring to detect suspicious sql query patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.