CVE-2008-5578 in sCssBoard
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in index.php in sCssBoard 1.0, 1.1, 1.11, and 1.12 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via (1) the f parameter in a showforum action, (2) the u parameter in a profile action, (3) the viewcat parameter, or (4) a combination of scb_uid and scb_ident cookie values.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2024
The CVE-2008-5578 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting sCssBoard versions 1.0 through 1.12, exposing multiple attack vectors that enable remote code execution through database manipulation. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's core scripting logic, specifically in the index.php file that handles user interactions and forum operations. The flaw manifests when user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into SQL query constructions without proper escaping or parameterization, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands. The vulnerability affects four distinct parameter handling mechanisms within the application's architecture, demonstrating a systemic weakness in input processing that extends across multiple functional areas of the forum software.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through four primary attack vectors that collectively demonstrate the breadth of the flaw's impact. The first vector targets the f parameter during showforum actions, allowing attackers to manipulate forum display queries. The second vector exploits the u parameter in profile actions, enabling unauthorized access to user data through profile viewing functions. The third vector targets the viewcat parameter, affecting category-based content retrieval operations. The fourth vector combines scb_uid and scb_ident cookie values, representing a more sophisticated attack approach that leverages session management weaknesses. Each of these vectors operates through the same fundamental principle of improper input validation, where user-controllable data flows directly into database queries without adequate sanitization measures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. Remote attackers can leverage these injection points to extract sensitive information from the underlying database, including user credentials, personal data, and forum configuration details. The potential for privilege escalation exists through database manipulation, allowing attackers to gain administrative access or modify forum content. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers can potentially execute destructive operations such as data deletion, modification of forum structure, or even complete system compromise through database-level commands. The widespread nature of this vulnerability across multiple versions of sCssBoard indicates that organizations running any of these affected versions face immediate security risks, with the attack surface expanding to include all users interacting with the forum functionality.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper output encoding to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves implementing strict input sanitization measures that validate and filter all user-supplied data before processing, combined with the adoption of prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent injection attacks. Additionally, comprehensive logging and monitoring should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires updating to patched versions of sCssBoard or implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious input patterns. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and ensure proper security testing is integrated into development lifecycle processes to prevent such vulnerabilities from emerging in future software releases.