CVE-2008-4169 in EasyIndex
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in detaillist.php in iScripts EasyIndex, possibly 1.0, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the produid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4169 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the iScripts EasyIndex web application version 1.0 and potentially earlier iterations. This security weakness resides in the detaillist.php script which processes user input through the produid parameter without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the application's database layer, potentially compromising the entire backend infrastructure. Such vulnerabilities fall under the common weakness enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands, making this a classic sql injection attack vector that has plagued web applications for decades. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of input validation and proper parameterized query construction that violates established secure coding practices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input for the produid parameter that gets directly incorporated into sql queries without proper escaping or sanitization. When the detaillist.php script processes this parameter, it concatenates the user-supplied value directly into the sql statement, allowing attackers to manipulate the intended query structure. This could enable unauthorized data access, data modification, or complete database compromise depending on the attacker's privileges and the underlying database system. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker with knowledge of the vulnerable application's structure. This type of vulnerability is categorized under the attack technique ATT&CK T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, which specifically addresses the exploitation of externally accessible web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this sql injection could extract sensitive customer information, modify product listings, or even gain administrative access to the application's database. The vulnerability's presence in iScripts EasyIndex suggests a broader issue with the application's security architecture, potentially exposing other endpoints within the same application to similar attacks. Organizations running this software face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences. The vulnerability represents a critical security gap that could allow attackers to establish persistent access to sensitive business data, making it a high-priority target for remediation efforts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4169 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application's codebase, specifically ensuring that all user-supplied input to the produid parameter is properly escaped or sanitized before database interaction. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the application's codebase. The remediation process should include updating to the latest version of iScripts EasyIndex if available, or implementing proper input sanitization techniques that align with secure coding standards such as those outlined in owasp's top ten project and the iso/iec 27001 information security management framework. Regular database access logging and monitoring should also be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.