CVE-2008-5168 in Tips Complete Website
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in tip.php in Tips Complete Website 1.2.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the tipid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5168 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Tips Complete Website version 1.2.0 application. This security weakness resides in the tip.php script where user input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. The specific parameter at risk is tipid which serves as an identifier for tips within the application's database. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious SQL commands through the tipid parameter, thereby gaining unauthorized access to the underlying database system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and parameter handling within the web application's backend processing. When the tipid parameter is submitted to tip.php, the application directly incorporates this value into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This design flaw allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that executes with the privileges of the database user account used by the web application. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection attacks, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications through SQL injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with extensive control over the affected database. Successful exploitation enables unauthorized users to extract sensitive information, modify database content, delete records, or even escalate privileges to gain full administrative control over the database system. The remote nature of this attack means that threat actors can exploit the vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by a wide range of threat actors including script kiddies, organized crime groups, and nation-state actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5168 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application code. The most effective remediation involves replacing direct string concatenation of user input with prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL code from data. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization techniques including whitelisting acceptable characters and lengths for the tipid parameter can prevent malicious input from being processed. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can provide additional layers of defense, though these should not be relied upon as the sole mitigation strategy. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of their web applications, as this type of SQL injection vulnerability is commonly found in legacy web applications that have not been properly updated or secured according to modern security standards.