CVE-2008-5191 in SePortal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in SePortal 2.4 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) poll_id parameter to poll.php and the (2) sp_id parameter to staticpages.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The CVE-2008-5191 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in SePortal 2.4, a content management system that suffered from multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities affecting its core functionality. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's handling of user-supplied parameters, creating exploitable entry points for malicious actors to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database server. The specific attack vectors target two distinct files within the application: poll.php and staticpages.php, which process user input through the poll_id and sp_id parameters respectively.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which classifies SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The flaw occurs when the application directly incorporates user-supplied input into database queries without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. Attackers can manipulate the poll_id parameter in poll.php or the sp_id parameter in staticpages.php to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed by the database engine. This allows adversaries to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even escalate privileges within the application's database environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5191 is severe and multifaceted, as it provides remote attackers with unrestricted access to the application's database backend. Successful exploitation could result in complete data compromise, including user credentials, personal information, and application configuration details. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations such as data extraction, modification, or deletion, potentially leading to service disruption and data loss. Additionally, the attack surface extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers could use the SQL injection to escalate privileges, create backdoors, or establish persistent access to the system. The remote nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for web applications.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access to systems. The attack chain typically involves reconnaissance to identify the vulnerable parameters, followed by crafting malicious payloads that exploit the SQL injection flaws. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation, parameterized queries, and input sanitization techniques. Organizations should immediately apply security patches released by the vendor, implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, and conduct comprehensive security assessments of all database interactions within the application. Regular security testing including penetration testing and code reviews should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines to prevent such injection flaws in future development cycles.