CVE-2008-3393 in BookMine
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in events.cfm in BookMine allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the events_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3393 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the BookMine web application's events.cfm component. This vulnerability specifically targets the events_id parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious input manipulation. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands directly into the application's database query execution chain, potentially compromising the entire backend database system. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's parameter handling mechanism, allowing attackers to bypass normal security controls and execute unauthorized database operations.
This SQL injection vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The attack vector leverages the application's failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. When an attacker submits malicious input through the events_id parameter, the application processes this input without adequate sanitization, resulting in the execution of unintended SQL statements. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing SQL injection attacks according to industry security standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform complete database compromise operations. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive information, modify or delete database records, create new database users with elevated privileges, or even execute operating system commands on the database server. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by threat actors with minimal reconnaissance required, potentially leading to widespread data breaches and system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3393 should prioritize implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious SQL injection patterns targeting the events_id parameter. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries would eliminate the vulnerability by ensuring that user input is properly separated from SQL command structure. Additionally, applying the principle of least privilege to database accounts used by the application can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and static code analysis should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access to systems and data, emphasizing the need for comprehensive application security measures.