CVE-2008-5070 in Pro Chat Rooms
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Pro Chat Rooms 3.0.3, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the gud parameter to (1) profiles/index.php and (2) profiles/admin.php.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5070 represents a critical sql injection flaw in Pro Chat Rooms version 3.0.3 that exploits a fundamental security weakness in input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets applications where the magic_quotes_gpc directive is disabled, creating an environment where user-supplied data can be directly interpreted as sql commands without proper sanitization. The flaw manifests through the gud parameter in two primary entry points: profiles/index.php and profiles/admin.php, making it particularly dangerous as it affects both user-facing and administrative interfaces of the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into sql query constructions. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the application lacks automatic escaping of special sql characters in GET and POST parameters, allowing malicious actors to inject crafted sql payloads directly through the gud parameter. This parameter processing occurs in both the public profiles/index.php script and the administrative profiles/admin.php script, creating dual attack vectors that significantly expand the potential impact. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89, which classifies sql injection as a weakness where untrusted data is used to construct sql queries without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary sql commands on the underlying database server. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive user data, modify database contents, create new database users, or even escalate privileges within the application's database environment. Given that the vulnerability affects both user and administrative interfaces, attackers could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in the chat rooms database, including user credentials, private messages, and system configuration details. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the server or network infrastructure.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1190 which addresses exploitation of remote services. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires minimal prerequisites beyond having access to the vulnerable application, as the magic_quotes_gpc setting is often misconfigured or disabled in production environments. Security mitigations should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection, along with ensuring that magic_quotes_gpc is properly configured or that alternative sanitization measures are implemented. Additionally, network segmentation and application firewalls should be deployed to limit access to vulnerable endpoints, while regular security audits should verify that all user inputs are properly sanitized before database interaction occurs. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of defense-in-depth strategies and proper security configuration management in preventing successful sql injection attacks.