CVE-2008-2565 in Php-address Book
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in PHP Address Book 3.1.5 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter to (1) view.php and (2) edit.php. NOTE: it was later reported that 4.0.x is also affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2565 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting PHP Address Book versions 3.1.5 and earlier, with subsequent confirmation that version 4.0.x remains susceptible to the same threat. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input within the id parameter of two key scripts: view.php and edit.php. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the id parameter, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure. The vulnerability's severity stems from the application's insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms, which fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as it enables unauthorized users to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the backend database, potentially leading to data theft, data modification, or complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure since attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, access sensitive information, or even gain shell access to the underlying server. The vulnerability affects web applications that rely on dynamic query construction without proper parameterization or input sanitization, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools. The fact that version 4.0.x was later confirmed as affected demonstrates the persistence of this design flaw in the application's codebase, indicating inadequate security review processes during development cycles.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites as attackers only need to send specially crafted requests to the vulnerable endpoints. When an attacker submits a malicious id parameter to either view.php or edit.php, the application processes this input directly within SQL queries without proper sanitization, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious SQL fragments. The vulnerability's presence in both view and edit scripts indicates a systemic issue within the application's input handling architecture, suggesting that the same flawed code pattern exists across multiple components. This pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications to execute arbitrary code. The attack can be executed through standard HTTP requests, making it accessible to attackers with basic web exploitation knowledge. The SQL injection occurs at the database interaction layer, where user input is concatenated directly into SQL statements rather than being properly parameterized. This approach violates fundamental security principles and creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate database operations. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects core application functionality, meaning that legitimate users may unknowingly trigger the injection during normal operation, potentially leading to more sophisticated attack scenarios.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of PHP Address Book face significant operational risks that extend beyond immediate data exposure. The vulnerability creates potential for unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, which can result in business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and financial losses. The ability to execute arbitrary SQL commands means attackers could extract sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, or system configuration details. This vulnerability also poses risks to network security as it may serve as a stepping stone for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The impact on system availability is considerable since attackers could potentially cause database corruption or denial of service conditions through malicious SQL injection payloads. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution threat means that attackers do not require physical access or local privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant or shared hosting environments. Security teams must also consider the potential for credential theft, as SQL injection attacks often target database authentication information. The long-term implications include potential regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and increased security audit requirements. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the application's architecture that requires comprehensive remediation rather than simple patching.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2565 should focus on immediate application updates and comprehensive input validation implementation. The most effective approach involves upgrading to a patched version of PHP Address Book that addresses the SQL injection vulnerability, as this eliminates the root cause of the issue. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries or prepared statements throughout the application codebase to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. Input validation should be strengthened to reject or sanitize any potentially malicious input before processing, particularly for parameters that are directly incorporated into database queries. The implementation of web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to limit the privileges of database accounts used by the application, following the principle of least privilege. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications. Network segmentation and database isolation techniques can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The implementation of automated vulnerability scanning tools can help detect similar injection vulnerabilities in other web applications within the organization. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized database access patterns that may indicate exploitation of SQL injection vulnerabilities. Training programs for developers should emphasize secure coding practices, particularly regarding proper input handling and database query construction. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the applied fixes do not introduce new functionality issues or break existing application features.