CVE-2008-5132 in MemHT
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in inc/ajax/ajax_rating.php in MemHT Portal 4.0.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the X-Forwarded-For HTTP header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2024
The CVE-2008-5132 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the MemHT Portal 4.0.1 content management system that exposes the application to remote code execution attacks through improper input validation. This vulnerability specifically targets the inc/ajax/ajax_rating.php component which processes incoming http requests and fails to adequately sanitize the X-Forwarded-For header parameter. The X-Forwarded-For header is commonly used by web applications to determine the original ip address of a client when requests pass through proxies or load balancers, making it a legitimate part of the application's request processing flow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied input from the X-Forwarded-For header before incorporating it into sql query constructions. When an attacker crafts a malicious X-Forwarded-For header containing sql payload characters and special sql operators, the application directly injects this unvalidated data into database queries without appropriate sanitization mechanisms. This design flaw creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate the underlying database operations and execute arbitrary sql commands with the privileges of the web application's database user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it provides attackers with the capability to completely compromise the database backend of the memht portal installation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and application configuration details. The vulnerability also enables attackers to modify or delete database records, potentially leading to complete service disruption or data loss. Given that the vulnerability operates through a standard http header, it can be exploited without requiring authentication or prior access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in public-facing applications.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 sql injection and follows patterns commonly associated with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 application layer protocol. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate data sanitization that violate fundamental secure coding principles. Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper header sanitization techniques. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of network segmentation and web application firewalls to detect and prevent such attacks. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar injection flaws in other application components, as this type of vulnerability remains prevalent in legacy web applications and represents a common attack vector in the current threat landscape.