CVE-2008-2529 in Advanced Links Management
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in read.php in Advanced Links Management (ALM) 1.5.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the catId parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2529 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Advanced Links Management (ALM) version 1.5.2 web application. This security weakness specifically affects the read.php script which processes user input through the catId parameter, creating an exploitable condition that enables remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper parameter handling within the application's data processing pipeline, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that bypass normal authentication and authorization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a malicious value through the catId parameter in the read.php script. The application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions, resulting in a situation where database commands can be executed with the privileges of the web application's database user account. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly included in SQL commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution risk since attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify database contents, or potentially escalate privileges within the application's database environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2529 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the entire database structure and content managed by the ALM application. Depending on the database user privileges, successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise including data exfiltration, data corruption, or even the ability to execute operating system commands if the database server has such capabilities. The vulnerability affects any system running Advanced Links Management 1.5.2 where the read.php script is accessible to unauthenticated users, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web environments. This weakness aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, as it represents an unauthenticated attack vector targeting web application functionality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized query usage within the ALM application code. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input sanitization routines that filter or escape special characters commonly used in SQL injection attacks, combined with the adoption of prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL command structure from user data. System administrators should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, while database access controls should be reviewed to ensure the web application connects using least privilege accounts with minimal required database permissions. Additionally, the affected ALM version should be upgraded to the latest available release that contains patches addressing this specific vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released security updates to resolve this weakness in subsequent versions of their software.