CVE-2008-3603 in Script
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in Vacation Rental Script 3.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter in a sections action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3603 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Vacation Rental Script 3.0 web application. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php file and occurs when processing the id parameter during sections action requests. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the application's database interaction logic, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands through carefully crafted input data. Such vulnerabilities fall under the common weakness enumeration category of CWE-89 sql injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability due to its potential for unauthorized data access and system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries by injecting malicious sql code through the id parameter. When the application processes the sections action with an unvalidated id input, it directly incorporates user-supplied data into sql command construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. This creates an environment where attackers can execute commands such as union selects, drop tables, or extract sensitive information from the database. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with access to the affected web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential data destruction. Attackers can leverage the sql injection to extract confidential information including user credentials, customer data, and business-sensitive records. The vulnerability also enables attackers to modify or delete database content, potentially causing service disruption and financial loss. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the attack tree framework, where the exploitation path involves input manipulation followed by database command execution. The attack can be automated using various sql injection tools and frameworks, making it accessible to threat actors with varying skill levels.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3603 should prioritize immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques including escaping special characters and using prepared statements with parameterized queries to ensure user input cannot be interpreted as sql commands. The application should also implement proper access controls and input length restrictions for the id parameter. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to standards such as owasp top 10, specifically addressing the sql injection category. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires comprehensive code review and testing to ensure that all input parameters are properly validated and sanitized before database interaction occurs.