CVE-2008-3403 in MojoPersonals
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in mojoClassified.cgi in MojoPersonals allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the cat parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3403 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the mojoClassified.cgi script of the MojoPersonals web application. This vulnerability specifically targets the cat parameter which is used to filter and display classified advertisements within the application's categorization system. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious SQL commands within the cat parameter, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the underlying database system.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk security flaw in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The attack vector operates through the web application's CGI interface where user input directly influences database operations without proper sanitization. The cat parameter serves as the primary attack surface, allowing remote threat actors to manipulate the SQL query execution flow and potentially execute arbitrary commands on the database server. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion operations, potentially leading to complete database compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass full system compromise potential. Remote attackers can leverage this SQL injection flaw to extract sensitive user information, including personal details, login credentials, and confidential business data stored within the MojoPersonals database. The vulnerability also enables attackers to modify or delete classified advertisements, potentially disrupting the application's functionality and damaging the platform's integrity. Additionally, successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation within the database environment, allowing attackers to execute administrative commands and gain deeper system access.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command execution and credential access through the use of SQL injection as a reconnaissance and exploitation method. The threat actor would typically begin with reconnaissance to identify the vulnerable parameter, followed by crafting malicious payloads targeting the cat parameter. The exploitation process aligns with the T1071.004 technique for application layer protocol usage and T1190 for exploitation of remote services. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation, parameterized queries, and proper output encoding to prevent such vulnerabilities. The recommended mitigations include immediate patching of the affected application, implementation of web application firewalls, database query parameterization, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components.
The remediation approach for CVE-2008-3403 requires immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining the MojoPersonals platform. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization techniques that ensure all user-supplied data is properly escaped or encoded before being processed by database queries. This includes using parameterized queries or prepared statements that separate SQL commands from user input data. Additionally, organizations should establish robust access controls and database permissions to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Regular security auditing and code reviews should be conducted to identify and address similar vulnerabilities throughout the application codebase. The implementation of proper logging and monitoring mechanisms will also aid in detecting and responding to exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.