CVE-2008-5000 in PHPX
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in admin/includes/news.inc.php in PHPX 3.5.16, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via uppercase characters in the news_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-5000 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the phpX content management system version 3.5.16. This issue specifically affects the administrative includes file admin/includes/news.inc.php and demonstrates how insufficient input validation can lead to complete system compromise when combined with specific server configurations. The vulnerability exploits a condition where the application fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the backend database operations.
The technical mechanism of this vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of the news_id parameter within the news.inc.php file. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled on the web server, the application becomes particularly susceptible to sql injection attacks because it lacks the automatic escaping of special sql characters that would normally occur. The vulnerability is specifically triggered by uppercase characters in the news_id parameter, indicating that the application employs case-sensitive input validation or processing that fails to account for different character casing scenarios. This particular weakness suggests that the developers implemented incomplete input sanitization routines that only address lowercase or specific character patterns while neglecting uppercase variations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations using phpX 3.5.16, as remote attackers can execute arbitrary sql commands without authentication. The implications extend beyond simple data theft to include complete database compromise, potential system takeover, and unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract confidential information, modify or delete database records, and potentially escalate privileges within the application environment. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by its remote nature, meaning attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network presence to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web applications.
The security implications of CVE-2008-5000 align with common weakness enumerations identified in the cwe dictionary under cwe-89 sql injection, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application vulnerabilities. This classification indicates that the flaw allows attackers to manipulate sql queries through user input, potentially leading to unauthorized database access and data manipulation. The vulnerability also maps to attack techniques described in the mitre att&ck framework within the execution and privilege escalation domains, as attackers can use the sql injection to execute arbitrary commands and potentially gain elevated system privileges. Organizations should note that this vulnerability exemplifies poor input validation practices and highlights the critical importance of implementing comprehensive sanitization routines that account for all possible character variations and input scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through code-level fixes that properly sanitize all user input before processing. The most effective approach involves implementing parameterized queries or prepared statements to separate sql code from user data, ensuring that all input is properly escaped regardless of character case. Organizations should also implement input validation that explicitly handles uppercase characters and other potentially malicious input patterns. Additionally, enabling magic_quotes_gpc as a temporary workaround can provide protection, though this approach is not recommended as a permanent solution due to its deprecated status in modern php versions. The recommended long-term solution involves comprehensive code review and implementation of secure coding practices that follow established security frameworks and industry standards for preventing sql injection vulnerabilities.