CVE-2008-4088 in myPHPNuke
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in print.php in myPHPNuke (MPN) before 1.8.8_8rc2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the sid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The CVE-2008-4088 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in myPHPNuke version 1.8.8_8rc2 and earlier releases. This vulnerability specifically affects the print.php script within the web application framework, making it susceptible to remote code execution attacks. The flaw manifests through improper input validation of the sid parameter, which is commonly used for session identification within the application's print functionality. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious SQL queries through the sid parameter, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the underlying database system and executing arbitrary commands on the server. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL query structures, creating a direct pathway for malicious data injection.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a specially crafted sid parameter value that contains malicious SQL code. The print.php script processes this input without adequate validation, allowing the injected SQL commands to be executed within the database context. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it enables remote attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can allow attackers to escalate privileges, gain persistent access to the database, and potentially compromise the entire web server infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using affected myPHPNuke versions. The remote execution capability means attackers can exploit the flaw from any location without requiring local system access or authentication. The impact includes potential data breaches, system compromise, and service disruption. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the database, including user credentials, personal data, and business-critical records. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access. Additionally, this flaw contributes to broader attack chains that can lead to lateral movement within networks and persistent threats. The attack surface is particularly wide since myPHPNuke was widely deployed in web hosting environments and content management scenarios.
The recommended mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4088 involve immediate patching of the affected myPHPNuke installations to version 1.8.8_8rc2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent similar vulnerabilities in their applications. Web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers by filtering malicious SQL injection attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate potential injection points. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security monitoring practices. Organizations should consider implementing database access controls, query logging, and intrusion detection systems to detect and respond to exploitation attempts. Additionally, developers should follow secure coding practices such as input sanitization, output encoding, and least privilege access principles when building web applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases.