CVE-2008-1551 in Photo Module
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in viewcat.php in the Photo 3.02 module for RunCMS allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the cid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1551 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Photo 3.02 module of RunCMS content management system. This vulnerability specifically affects the viewcat.php script which handles category viewing functionality, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to compromise the underlying database infrastructure. The flaw exists due to inadequate input validation and sanitization of the cid parameter, which is used to specify category identifiers for photo display. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious sql commands within the cid parameter, bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a fundamental flaw in software applications that fail to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into database queries. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands without requiring legitimate credentials or privileged access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or manipulation. Successful exploitation can enable attackers to extract sensitive information from the database including user credentials, personal data, and system configurations. The attacker could potentially escalate privileges, modify or delete critical database records, and even gain persistent access to the underlying system through database-level commands. In a typical exploitation scenario, an attacker would submit a malicious cid parameter containing sql payload that could reveal administrative user accounts, modify photo categories, or even inject malicious code into the database. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not need physical access to the server or network, making it particularly attractive for widespread exploitation campaigns. This vulnerability directly aligns with attack techniques documented in the attack pattern taxonomy under techniques that involve data manipulation and unauthorized access to database systems.
The remediation approach for CVE-2008-1551 requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries. Systems administrators should apply the official security patch released by RunCMS developers or upgrade to a newer version that addresses this vulnerability. The fix should implement strict input sanitization routines that validate the cid parameter against expected data types and ranges, ensuring that only legitimate category identifiers are processed. Additionally, the application should adopt prepared statements or parameterized queries to separate sql command structure from user input data, which effectively prevents malicious sql code from being executed. Security measures should include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block sql injection attempts, conducting regular security audits of input handling routines, and establishing proper database access controls that limit the privileges of database accounts used by the web application. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring to detect anomalous sql queries that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as the owasp top ten security risks and the iso/iec 27001 information security management framework to prevent similar issues in future software development cycles.