CVE-2008-4092 in myPHPNuke
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in printfeature.php in myPHPNuke (MPN) before 1.8.8_8rc2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the artid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4092 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the myPHPNuke content management system, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.8.8_8rc2. This vulnerability resides in the printfeature.php script which processes user input through the artid parameter without adequate sanitization or validation. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious SQL code directly into the database query execution flow, potentially compromising the entire backend database infrastructure.
This security weakness fundamentally stems from improper input validation and sanitization practices within the application's data handling mechanisms. The artid parameter serves as the primary attack vector where malicious users can manipulate the input to include SQL commands that bypass normal authentication and authorization checks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a direct consequence of insufficient input validation and improper escaping of special characters in database queries. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of parameterized queries or prepared statements, allowing attackers to construct malicious payloads that execute arbitrary database operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database server. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, including unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion of critical system information. Attackers might also leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, create backdoor accounts, or extract sensitive user credentials stored in the database. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this flaw from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications hosting sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4092 should prioritize immediate patching of affected myPHPNuke installations to version 1.8.8_8rc2 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive input filtering mechanisms that validate all user-supplied data against expected formats and reject malformed inputs. The implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements should become mandatory for all database interactions, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework's command and control techniques. Additionally, network-based security controls such as web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the infrastructure.