CVE-2008-3513 in Basis Consultant Book Catalog
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Book Catalog module 1.0 for PHP-Nuke allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the catid parameter in a category action to modules.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2025
The CVE-2008-3513 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Book Catalog module version 1.0 of the PHP-Nuke content management system. This vulnerability specifically affects the category handling functionality where user input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into sql queries. The flaw exists in the modules.php file where the catid parameter from the category action is directly used in database operations without adequate input validation or parameterization. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands through the web interface, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the underlying database system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the classic sql injection attack pattern where an attacker crafts malicious input containing sql payload within the catid parameter. When the php-nuke application processes this parameter, it concatenates the user-supplied value directly into the sql query string without proper escaping or sanitization. This creates an environment where sql commands can be executed with the privileges of the web application's database user account. The vulnerability is classified as a direct sql injection issue that maps to cwe-89 in the common weakness enumeration framework, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations running affected php-nuke installations. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract sensitive data including user credentials, personal information, and database structures. The compromised system may also allow for data modification, deletion, or even complete database takeover depending on the privileges of the database user account. Additionally, the vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges within the application, potentially leading to full system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects the core book catalog functionality that many users interact with regularly, making exploitation more likely and impactful.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2008-3513 requires immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. Organizations should apply the official security patch released by the php-nuke development team or upgrade to a supported version that addresses this vulnerability. The solution involves implementing proper input sanitization techniques where all user-supplied data is validated against expected formats and characters before being processed. Additionally, database access should be restricted to the minimum required privileges for the web application, and all sql queries should utilize parameterized statements or prepared queries to separate sql code from user input. This approach aligns with the defensive coding practices recommended by the center for internet security and follows the principle of least privilege as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the nist cybersecurity framework and iso 27001 standards. The vulnerability also relates to several attack techniques documented in the mitre att&ck framework under the sql injection category, specifically targeting the execution of malicious sql commands through web application interfaces.