CVE-2008-3780 in Five Star Review Script
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in recommend.php in Five Star Review Script allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the item_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3780 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Five Star Review Script application, specifically affecting the recommend.php component. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the item_id parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query execution flow, potentially compromising the entire backend database infrastructure.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it allows remote code execution through database manipulation, enabling attackers to perform unauthorized operations such as data extraction, modification, or deletion. The item_id parameter serves as the primary entry point for exploitation, as it is directly embedded into SQL queries without proper input validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and potentially gain full administrative control over the database. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this flaw from any location without requiring physical access to the system. This vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application's data, with potential cascading effects on related services that depend on the compromised database. The Five Star Review Script, being a web-based application, exposes this vulnerability through standard HTTP requests, making it particularly accessible to attackers who may leverage automated scanning tools to identify and exploit such flaws.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to ensure that user-supplied data cannot alter the intended SQL command structure. This approach aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer attacks and follows the principle of least privilege in database access control. Organizations should implement proper output encoding, employ web application firewalls, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. Additionally, the remediation process should include comprehensive code review practices and adherence to secure coding standards to prevent similar injection vulnerabilities from occurring in future development cycles.