CVE-2008-5058 in Pre Simple CMS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in siteadmin/loginsucess.php in Pre Simple CMS allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the user parameter, as reachable from siteadmin/adminlogin.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2008-5058 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Pre Simple CMS content management system, specifically targeting the siteadmin/loginsucess.php script. This vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it originates from the siteadmin/adminlogin.php page, suggesting that authenticated access to the administrative interface is not sufficient to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability exists because the user parameter in the login success script does not properly sanitize input, allowing malicious actors to inject crafted SQL commands that bypass authentication mechanisms and potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying database.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic SQL injection pattern where an attacker manipulates the user parameter to inject malicious SQL code. When the application processes this input within the login success script, the unfiltered data is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. This flaw enables attackers to manipulate the database queries in ways that can reveal sensitive information, modify database records, or even execute administrative commands. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 as SQL injection, which is a well-documented weakness in web applications where user input is improperly handled in SQL commands. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that this vulnerability is reachable from the administrative login page, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or bypass authentication entirely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract user credentials, modify or delete content, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the CMS infrastructure. The implications are particularly severe for organizations relying on Pre Simple CMS for their web presence, as the vulnerability could result in data breaches, service disruption, and regulatory compliance violations. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to move laterally within the network infrastructure, especially if database credentials are shared with other applications. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1078 for valid accounts usage, demonstrating how SQL injection can be weaponized to achieve broader system compromise objectives.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5058 should prioritize immediate patching of the Pre Simple CMS application to address the input validation flaws in the login success script. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks, ensuring that all user inputs are properly escaped or validated before database interaction. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of administrative interfaces to trusted networks only. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and systems. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against SQL injection attempts. The remediation process should also include comprehensive code review of all database interaction points to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other parts of the application, as this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input handling that could affect other components of the CMS.