CVE-2008-5574 in Webmaster Marketplace
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in member.php in Webmaster Marketplace allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the u parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The CVE-2008-5574 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Webmaster Marketplace application's member.php script. This vulnerability specifically targets the u parameter which processes user input without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious sql commands directly into the application's database layer through crafted input values, potentially compromising the entire backend database infrastructure. The vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a fundamental security weakness in web applications where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into sql queries without adequate protection measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the u parameter in the member.php script. The application fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into sql queries, allowing attackers to manipulate the intended query execution flow. This can result in unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete database compromise depending on the attacker's privileges and the underlying database system configuration. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and lacks proper parameterized query implementation, making it particularly susceptible to exploitation by attackers with minimal technical expertise.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5574 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise potential. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive user information, modify database records, or even escalate privileges within the application environment. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system. This vulnerability directly aligns with attack techniques documented in the attack pattern taxonomy under the category of sql injection attacks and can be classified as a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the vulnerable application remains deployed without proper patching or mitigation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization measures, parameterized query implementations, and comprehensive code reviews to identify similar patterns throughout the application codebase. The remediation process should involve replacing direct sql query construction with prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent user input from being interpreted as sql commands. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and database privilege management can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect suspicious query patterns that may indicate sql injection attempts, following industry best practices outlined in security frameworks such as the owasp top ten and nist cybersecurity framework guidelines.