CVE-2008-2446 in Web Group Communication Center
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Web Group Communication Center (WGCC) 1.0.3 PreRelease 1 and earlier allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) userid parameter to (a) profile.php in a "show moreinfo" action; the (2) bildid parameter to (b) picturegallery.php in a shownext action; the (3) id parameter to (c) filebase.php in a freigeben action, (d) schedule.php in a del action, and (e) profile.php in an observe action; and the (4) pmid parameter in a delete action and (5) folderid parameter in a showfolder action to (f) message.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2024
The CVE-2008-2446 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting the Web Group Communication Center version 1.0.3 PreRelease 1 and earlier implementations. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within multiple script files that process user-supplied data through HTTP parameters. The affected components include profile.php, picturegallery.php, filebase.php, schedule.php, and message.php, each handling different user actions and parameters that collectively create multiple attack vectors for malicious SQL command injection. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires only authenticated user access, meaning that legitimate users with valid credentials can exploit these flaws to gain unauthorized access to the underlying database system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of specific HTTP parameters that are directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The userid parameter in profile.php during show moreinfo actions, bildid parameter in picturegallery.php during shownext actions, id parameter in filebase.php during freigeben actions, and additional parameters in schedule.php and profile.php during various actions all represent entry points where user input flows directly into database queries. Similarly, pmid parameter in message.php during delete actions and folderid parameter in message.php during showfolder actions create additional attack surfaces. These flaws align with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation that violates fundamental security principles for database interactions.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2446 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete database compromise and potential system infiltration. An authenticated attacker could execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially leading to data manipulation, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and even privilege escalation within the database system. The attack surface covers multiple functional areas of the communication center, suggesting that the vulnerability affects core database operations throughout the application. This multi-vector approach increases the likelihood of successful exploitation and provides attackers with multiple opportunities to achieve their objectives. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of data stored in the backend database, potentially exposing user information, communication records, and system configuration details. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1071.005 for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols and T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, representing a critical threat to the organization's information security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2446 should focus on implementing proper input validation, parameterized queries, and input sanitization across all affected script files. The most effective approach involves replacing direct string concatenation of user input with prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL command structure from data values. All HTTP parameters including userid, bildid, id, pmid, and folderid should be validated against expected data types and ranges before processing. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and least privilege principles can limit the damage from successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments, particularly in applications handling user-generated content and database interactions. Regular patch management and security updates should be prioritized to address similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system infrastructure.