CVE-2008-3670 in Article Friendly
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in authordetail.php in Article Friendly Pro allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the autid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3670 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Article Friendly Pro content management system, specifically affecting the authordetail.php component. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the autid parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the targeted parameter, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a code injection technique where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. The autid parameter in authordetail.php serves as the attack vector where malicious input can be directly interpreted by the database engine, enabling attackers to execute unauthorized commands. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when developers concatenate user input directly into SQL statements rather than utilizing prepared statements or parameterized queries, creating a direct pathway for malicious SQL code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents severe implications for organizations utilizing Article Friendly Pro, as it allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even escalate privileges within the application. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, leading to data breaches, loss of intellectual property, and potential regulatory violations under data protection frameworks such as gdpr or hipaa.
The impact extends beyond immediate data compromise to include long-term security degradation of the affected system. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, create unauthorized administrative accounts, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation practices that are commonly addressed by the mitre attack framework under the initial access and persistence phases, where attackers exploit weak input sanitization to gain unauthorized access and maintain control over compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations must immediately update to patched versions of Article Friendly Pro where available, or implement web application firewalls to filter malicious SQL payloads. The remediation process should include code review to ensure all database interactions utilize prepared statements or stored procedures, along with comprehensive testing of input validation mechanisms. Additionally, implementing least privilege database access controls and regular security audits can significantly reduce the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, while adherence to secure coding practices as outlined in owasp top ten and iso 27001 security standards provides comprehensive protection against similar threats.