CVE-2008-2916 in Pre ADS Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Pre ADS Portal 2.0 and earlier, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) cid parameter to showcategory.php and the (2) id parameter to software-description.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2916 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Pre ADS Portal versions 2.0 and earlier. This vulnerability exists specifically when the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, creating a dangerous condition where user input is not automatically escaped before being processed by the database. The flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors within the application's core functionality, making it particularly dangerous for attackers seeking to compromise the system. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through direct parameter manipulation in two key files of the Pre ADS Portal system. The first attack vector targets the cid parameter within the showcategory.php script, while the second exploits the id parameter in the software-description.php file. When these parameters receive unfiltered input from user requests, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the data before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the database user account. The absence of magic_quotes_gpc means that the application cannot rely on automatic escaping of special characters, leaving the system completely vulnerable to SQL injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially enabling attackers to gain complete control over the affected database system. Successful exploitation could allow unauthorized users to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configurations. Attackers might also be able to modify or delete database records, potentially leading to data corruption or complete system compromise. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications exposed to the internet. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers can leverage these injection points to establish persistent access to the database infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2916 should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized queries. The most effective approach involves upgrading to a newer version of Pre ADS Portal that addresses these vulnerabilities, as the original versions are no longer supported. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques, including the use of prepared statements and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection. Additionally, enabling magic_quotes_gpc as a temporary workaround can provide protection, though this is not a long-term solution. Security measures should also include regular database access monitoring, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting thorough penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the dangers of relying on deprecated or unsupported software versions in production environments.