CVE-2008-2498 in Mambo
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in index.php in Mambo before 4.6.4, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) articleid and (2) mcname parameters. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2498 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting the Mambo content management system prior to version 4.6.4. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php script and demonstrates the dangerous consequences of inadequate input validation in web applications. The flaw exists under specific conditions where the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, creating a dangerous environment where user-supplied data can be directly interpreted as SQL commands without proper sanitization. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability in the CWE top 25 most dangerous software weaknesses.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary parameter injection points within the application's request handling mechanism. Attackers can manipulate the articleid and mcname parameters to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed against the underlying database. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the PHP application fails to automatically escape special characters in GET and POST data, allowing attackers to craft SQL payloads that bypass normal input validation. This particular attack vector demonstrates the fundamental principle that web applications must never trust user input and must always implement proper data sanitization regardless of server configuration settings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the affected database server. This capability enables attackers to perform data manipulation, data extraction, privilege escalation, and potentially gain full control over the database infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Mambo CMS, which could lead to complete system compromise including unauthorized access to user accounts, modification of content, and potential data breaches. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1046 for network service discovery, as attackers would typically need to identify and exploit this vulnerability to gain deeper access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2498 must include immediate patching to version 4.6.4 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should also implement proper database access controls, including the principle of least privilege, where database accounts used by web applications have minimal necessary permissions. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, including web application firewalls and proper parameterized queries, would provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of not relying solely on server configuration settings like magic_quotes_gpc for security, as these can be easily disabled or bypassed in modern environments. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in their web applications, as SQL injection remains one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security issues according to OWASP Top Ten Project classifications.