CVE-2008-3918 in Ovidentia
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in Ovidentia 6.6.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the field parameter in a search action. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3918 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Ovidentia content management system version 6.6.5. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php file and occurs during search operations when processing the field parameter. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database system, potentially compromising the entire application infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, allowing malicious sql payloads to be injected directly into the database query execution chain. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into sql commands without proper escaping or parameterization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive database information, including user credentials, personal data, and application configuration details. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or network to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for web applications. The search functionality in content management systems often provides broad access to database resources, and when combined with sql injection capabilities, attackers can potentially escalate privileges, create backdoors, or even completely compromise the application. This vulnerability directly aligns with attack techniques documented in the mitre att&ck framework under the initial access and execution phases, specifically targeting the sql injection tactic and technique.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3918 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security architecture improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application code, particularly in the search functionality where the vulnerability manifests. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts, while also implementing proper output encoding to prevent reflected sql injection attacks. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The remediation process should include updating to patched versions of Ovidentia, as version 6.6.5 is known to be vulnerable. Additionally, database access should be restricted through proper privilege management, ensuring that application accounts have minimal required permissions. Security awareness training for developers should emphasize the importance of input validation and the use of prepared statements to prevent sql injection vulnerabilities in future development cycles.