CVE-2008-4156 in Gaming Portal
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in print.php in CustomCms (CCMS) Gaming Portal 4.0, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4156 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the CustomCms Gaming Portal version 4.0, specifically affecting the print.php component. This security weakness arises from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The vulnerability becomes particularly exploitable when the web server configuration has magic_quotes_gpc disabled, a common scenario in many production environments where this PHP security feature is intentionally turned off to maintain compatibility with certain applications. The affected parameter, id, serves as the primary attack vector through which malicious actors can manipulate database operations by injecting specially crafted SQL commands directly into the application's query execution flow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper parameterized queries or input sanitization techniques when processing the id parameter. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, PHP does not automatically escape special characters in GET, POST, and COOKIE data, leaving the application vulnerable to SQL injection attacks. Attackers can exploit this by submitting malicious input through the id parameter that contains SQL commands designed to manipulate database operations. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary SQL command execution, potentially enabling attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even gain unauthorized access to the underlying database system. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities in software applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-4156 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform comprehensive database manipulation and potentially escalate their privileges within the affected system. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, leading to unauthorized access to user credentials, personal information, game data, and other sensitive content stored within the gaming portal's database. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which involves application layer protocol manipulation, and T1190, which covers exploitation of remote services through application vulnerabilities. Organizations running CustomCms Gaming Portal 4.0 without proper input validation measures face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations, particularly in environments where gaming portals handle sensitive user information and transactional data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized query construction techniques. The most effective remediation involves upgrading the CustomCms Gaming Portal to a patched version that properly sanitizes all user inputs or implementing input validation at the application level to prevent malicious SQL characters from being processed. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block SQL injection attempts, while ensuring that magic_quotes_gpc is not relied upon as the sole defense mechanism. Additionally, database access controls should be reviewed to limit the privileges of database accounts used by the application, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security weaknesses in the application architecture that may require comprehensive remediation efforts to address effectively.