CVE-2008-4157 in phpVID
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in groups.php in Vastal I-Tech phpVID 1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the cat parameter, a different vector than CVE-2007-3610. NOTE: it was later reported that 1.2.3 is also affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4157 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the phpVID 1.1 content management system developed by Vastal I-Tech. This security weakness specifically targets the groups.php script and manifests through the cat parameter, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute unauthorized SQL commands against the underlying database. The vulnerability operates independently from CVE-2007-3610, indicating a distinct attack vector that requires separate mitigation strategies. The issue extends beyond the initial 1.1 version, as subsequent versions including 1.2.3 have been confirmed to contain the same susceptibility, demonstrating a persistent flaw in the software's input validation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user input passed through the cat parameter in groups.php is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This allows attackers to manipulate the SQL execution flow by injecting malicious SQL code that gets executed with the privileges of the database user account. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data within the application's backend processing logic. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, which is a fundamental weakness in database security architecture. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by its remote exploitability, meaning attackers do not require local system access to leverage the flaw.
The operational consequences of CVE-2008-4157 are severe and multifaceted, potentially enabling complete database compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers could gain read access to all database records, modify or delete critical data, and potentially escalate privileges to execute arbitrary system commands. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions including 1.2.3 indicates a systemic issue within the software's development lifecycle, suggesting inadequate security testing and code review processes. Organizations utilizing affected phpVID versions face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential system compromise. The remote nature of the attack vector means that this vulnerability could be exploited by attackers from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4157 must prioritize immediate patching of all affected versions to address the core SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent user-supplied data from being interpreted as SQL commands. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring database connections use accounts with minimal required permissions. Additionally, web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious SQL injection patterns. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application, emphasizing the need for network-level defenses. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be implemented to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The affected software vendors should be contacted for updated versions containing proper input sanitization and SQL query parameterization mechanisms to prevent future exploitation attempts.