CVE-2008-3943 in Living Local
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in listtest.php in eZoneScripts Living Local 1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the r parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3943 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the eZoneScripts Living Local 1.1 web application, specifically affecting the listtest.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the r parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious SQL code directly into the application's database queries, potentially compromising the entire backend database infrastructure. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its remote exploitability, meaning attackers do not require local system access or authentication to leverage the weakness, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes the r parameter value directly within SQL query construction without proper input filtering or parameterization. This primitive approach to query building creates an opening for attackers to manipulate the intended database operations by injecting malicious SQL syntax into the parameter value. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper validation or escaping. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, deletion, or even database schema enumeration, depending on the attacker's privileges and the underlying database system's configuration.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3943 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Remote attackers can potentially extract confidential user data, including personal information, authentication credentials, and business-sensitive records stored within the database. The vulnerability also opens pathways for attackers to escalate privileges, modify application behavior, or establish persistent access through database-level backdoors. This represents a significant threat to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected web application and its underlying data infrastructure, particularly when the application handles sensitive user information or business-critical data.
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 throughout the application codebase, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before database interaction. Organizations should adopt the principle of least privilege for database accounts, limiting the permissions granted to application database users to only those necessary for legitimate operations. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, input filtering mechanisms, and regular security code reviews can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future development cycles. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure coding practices, ensuring that the application architecture incorporates defense-in-depth strategies that align with the ATT&CK framework's prevention and detection methodologies.