CVE-2008-4765 in Poll Booth
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in pollBooth.php in osCommerce Poll Booth Add-On 2.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the pollID parameter in a results operation. NOTE: this issue was disclosed by an unreliable researcher, so it might be incorrect.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2024
The CVE-2008-4765 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the osCommerce Poll Booth Add-On version 2.0, specifically affecting the pollBooth.php script during results operations. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the pollID parameter, which is processed without proper escaping or parameterization techniques. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious sql commands directly into the application's database layer through crafted pollID values, potentially compromising the entire underlying database infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker manipulates the pollID parameter in the results operation of the pollBooth.php script. The application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into sql queries, creating an environment where malicious sql code can be executed with the privileges of the web application's database user. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly embedded into sql commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to osCommerce installations using the affected poll booth add-on. Attackers could potentially extract sensitive data from the database, modify existing records, create new user accounts with elevated privileges, or even execute destructive operations such as table deletion. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the vulnerability could enable full database compromise, allowing attackers to escalate their access and potentially move laterally within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote nature means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate mitigation of this vulnerability through proper input validation and parameterized queries implementation. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input sanitization techniques that validate and escape all user-supplied data before processing, ensuring that the pollID parameter cannot be used to inject malicious sql commands. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation rules to prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of source code review and security testing for third-party components, as the issue was originally disclosed by an unreliable researcher, suggesting potential inconsistencies in vulnerability reporting that require careful verification before implementing any remediation strategies. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing proper security controls to prevent unauthorized database access and potential data breaches.