CVE-2008-2760 in Absolute Banner Manager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in searchbanners.asp in Xigla Absolute Banner Manager XE 2.0 allows remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the orderby parameter.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2760 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Xigla Absolute Banner Manager XE 2.0 web application. This security weakness specifically targets the searchbanners.asp component, which processes user input through the orderby parameter. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated administrative access to exploit, meaning that an attacker who has already gained administrative credentials can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database system. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as it operates within the context of an authenticated session, eliminating the need for initial reconnaissance or credential harvesting.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the searchbanners.asp script. When administrators use the ordering functionality to sort banner data, the orderby parameter is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without adequate parameterization or input filtering. This allows an authenticated administrator to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed against the database with the privileges of the web application's database user. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation practices that should be implemented using parameterized queries or prepared statements as recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project. The operational impact extends beyond simple data manipulation as the attacker can potentially extract sensitive information, modify database contents, or even escalate privileges within the database environment.
The exploitation of this vulnerability poses significant operational risks to organizations using Xigla Absolute Banner Manager XE 2.0. Since the attack requires only administrative authentication, it represents a privilege escalation threat where an insider or compromised administrator account can be leveraged to gain broader access to the underlying database infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts as a means of gaining access to systems, and T1046 which addresses network service scanning that could be used to identify the vulnerable application. The database access gained through this SQL injection could enable attackers to extract confidential information including user credentials, banner content, and potentially other sensitive data stored within the application's database. Organizations may also face compliance violations if sensitive data is compromised, particularly in environments subject to regulations such as pci dss or gdpr.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2760 should focus on immediate code-level fixes and broader security improvements. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries for all database interactions, particularly in the orderby parameter handling within searchbanners.asp. Organizations should also enforce the principle of least privilege for database accounts, ensuring that the web application connects to the database with minimal required permissions. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input sanitization mechanisms can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar injection vulnerabilities throughout the application codebase. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping web applications updated, as this specific version of Xigla Absolute Banner Manager XE 2.0 appears to be outdated and likely lacks security patches that would address such weaknesses. Organizations should consider migrating to supported versions or alternative banner management solutions that have been properly secured against SQL injection attacks.