CVE-2008-2381 in GForge
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the create function in common/include/GroupJoinRequest.class in GForge 4.5 and 4.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the comments variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2381 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the GForge collaboration platform version 4.5 and 4.6. This security weakness resides in the GroupJoinRequest.class file, specifically within the create function that handles user join requests to groups within the system. The vulnerability manifests when the comments variable is processed without proper input sanitization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database layer. This flaw falls under the well-established CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is consistently ranked among the top security vulnerabilities in the OWASP Top Ten and is frequently referenced in MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of Command and Script Injection.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers submit specially crafted input through the comments field during group join requests. The application fails to properly escape or parameterize the input before incorporating it into SQL queries, allowing attackers to manipulate the database query structure. This enables unauthorized users to execute arbitrary SQL commands with the privileges of the database user account under which the GForge application operates. Successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise, data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and potentially full system control depending on the database user permissions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the database level and can be leveraged to bypass application-level security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can result in complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive organizational information. Attackers can use this vulnerability to extract user credentials, modify group memberships, access restricted projects, and potentially escalate privileges to gain administrative access to the entire GForge platform. The affected versions 4.5 and 4.6 represent widely used collaboration platforms where such vulnerabilities can have significant business impact, particularly in enterprise environments where project management and access control are critical. Organizations using these versions face potential regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2381 should focus on immediate patch application to the latest available versions of GForge where this vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent similar issues in custom applications. Database access controls should be reviewed to ensure least privilege principles are enforced, and all database user accounts should have minimal required permissions. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar injection vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input sanitization as fundamental security controls that should be implemented across all web applications to prevent SQL injection attacks.