CVE-2008-2334 in Philboard
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in W1L3D4 Philboard 0.5 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) forumid parameter to (a) admin/philboard_admin-forumedit.asp, (b) admin/philboard_admin-forum.asp, and (c) W1L3D4_foruma_yeni_konu_ac.asp; the (2) id parameter to (d) W1L3D4_konuoku.asp and (e) W1L3D4_konuya_mesaj_yaz.asp; and the (3) topic parameter to W1L3D4_konuya_mesaj_yaz.asp, different vectors than CVE-2008-1939, CVE-2007-2641, and CVE-2007-0920. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw in W1L3D4 Philboard version 0.5, a web-based discussion forum application that was widely used in 2008. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within multiple ASP pages, creating multiple attack vectors that allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. The specific parameters affected include forumid in administrative pages, id in topic viewing and messaging pages, and topic in message posting functionality, all of which are directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper parameterization or input filtering.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a serious weakness in application security where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization. Attackers can exploit these vectors by crafting malicious input that alters the intended SQL query execution flow, potentially gaining unauthorized access to database contents, modifying or deleting records, or even executing system commands depending on the database configuration and permissions. The vulnerability affects multiple administrative and user-facing pages, making it particularly dangerous as it provides attackers with access to both user data and administrative controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it allows attackers to compromise the entire forum database infrastructure. An attacker could extract sensitive user information including usernames, passwords, and personal data, potentially leading to account takeovers and identity theft. The administrative access points provide additional attack surface for privilege escalation, allowing unauthorized individuals to modify forum content, delete discussions, or even completely disable the service. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access to systems and data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate input validation and parameterized queries implementation across all affected pages. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input sanitization filters that reject or escape special characters commonly used in SQL injection attacks, combined with the adoption of parameterized database queries that separate SQL command structure from data values. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications, and ensure regular patching and updates of all web applications. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and database user permissions can limit the damage if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments and penetration testing can help identify additional vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.