CVE-2008-5197 in PHP-Fusion
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in classifieds.php in PHP-Fusion allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the lid parameter in a detail_adverts action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5197 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PHP-Fusion content management system, specifically affecting the classifieds.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input parameters and allows malicious actors to manipulate database queries through the lid parameter during detail_adverts actions. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and sanitization, creating an avenue for unauthorized database access and potential system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient parameter filtering within the classifieds.php script where the lid parameter is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without appropriate escaping or sanitization measures. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed within the database context, potentially enabling full database access, data extraction, modification, or deletion operations. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by remote attackers without authentication.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing PHP-Fusion for their web presence, particularly those maintaining classified advertising systems. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential system compromise, data integrity violations, and service disruption. Attackers could exploit this flaw to extract sensitive user information, modify classified listings, or even gain administrative access to the system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in data validation and input sanitization processes. Additionally, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected PHP-Fusion installations to the latest secure versions that address the SQL injection flaw. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout their applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. Database access controls should be reviewed and restricted to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper input sanitization techniques as recommended by industry standards and security frameworks.