CVE-2008-5496 in Business Directory Script
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in showcategory.php in PozScripts Business Directory Script allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the cid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5496 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PozScripts Business Directory Script application. This security weakness specifically affects the showcategory.php component where user input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. The cid parameter serves as the primary attack vector, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that can be executed within the database context of the vulnerable application.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a persistent and severe threat in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices where the application directly incorporates user-supplied data into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it enables remote code execution capabilities that can result in complete database compromise, data exfiltration, and potential system infiltration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate database contents, create backdoor accounts, and potentially escalate privileges within the application environment. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability from any location without requiring physical access to the system. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1078 for valid accounts, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access and persistence within the target infrastructure.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of inadequate input validation and improper query construction practices that were prevalent in legacy web applications during the mid-2000s era. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious payloads that can bypass authentication mechanisms and manipulate database operations through the cid parameter. Organizations running affected versions of PozScripts Business Directory Script should immediately implement patch management procedures to address this vulnerability and consider implementing web application firewalls as additional protective measures. The remediation process should include thorough code review to identify similar patterns throughout the application codebase and implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent future occurrences of this class of vulnerability.