CVE-2008-5490 in Yahoo Answers
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in PHPStore Yahoo Answers allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5490 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PHPStore Yahoo Answers application, specifically affecting the index.php script. This weakness resides in the improper handling of user-supplied input through the id parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database queries and execute unauthorized commands. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-89 SQL Injection as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which systematically documents software security weaknesses and provides standardized classifications for common vulnerabilities. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that are essential for maintaining database security integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input for the id parameter that is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. This allows the attacker to inject arbitrary SQL commands that bypass normal authentication and authorization mechanisms, potentially enabling full database access, data exfiltration, or even system compromise. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution vector since attackers can exploit it from outside the network perimeter without requiring local system access. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects a web application component that likely handles user interactions and data retrieval operations, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can result in complete database compromise, leading to unauthorized modification of sensitive information, user account takeover, and potential lateral movement within affected networks. Organizations running vulnerable PHPStore Yahoo Answers implementations face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application indicates that threat actors can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to target systems, potentially using it as a foothold for broader network infiltration activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5490 should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations must ensure all user-supplied input undergoes strict sanitization before being processed by database systems, with proper use of prepared statements and stored procedures to eliminate the risk of command injection. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the application stack, while maintaining up-to-date security patches for all components. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect and alert on suspicious SQL query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include thorough testing to ensure that security measures do not inadvertently break legitimate application functionality while providing comprehensive protection against this and similar SQL injection vulnerabilities.