CVE-2008-2844 in Carscripts Classifieds
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in Carscripts Classifieds allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the cat parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2844 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Carscripts Classifieds web application, specifically affecting the index.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of the cat parameter, which serves as an input vector for attackers to manipulate database queries. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system, potentially compromising the entire data infrastructure of the classifieds platform.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The attack occurs when user-supplied input from the cat parameter is directly concatenated into SQL statements rather than being properly escaped or parameterized. The Carscripts Classifieds application fails to implement adequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to manipulate database operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform complete database compromise. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion of classified listings, user credentials, and other sensitive information stored within the application's database. Attackers might also escalate privileges, execute administrative commands, or establish persistent access through database backdoors, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for classified advertising platforms that handle substantial user data.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access to systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects a core application component that handles classified listings and user interactions. Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of parameterized queries, input validation, and output encoding to prevent SQL injection attacks. Additionally, the application should employ proper error handling to avoid exposing database structure information to attackers. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts.