CVE-2008-5820 in eDNews
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in eDNews_view.php in eDreamers eDNews 2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the newsid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The CVE-2008-5820 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the eDreamers eDNews 2 content management system where the eDNews_view.php script fails to properly sanitize user input. This vulnerability specifically targets the newsid parameter which is used to retrieve and display news articles from the database. The flaw arises from the application's insecure handling of database queries where user-supplied input is directly concatenated into sql statements without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands that can be executed with the privileges of the database user account used by the web application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a malicious value through the newsid parameter in the url. The application processes this input directly within a sql query structure, enabling attackers to manipulate the intended query execution. Common attack vectors include using sql comment syntax to bypass validation, union-based queries to extract data from other database tables, or even command execution depending on the database backend. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of sql injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability due to its potential for data breach, privilege escalation, and system compromise. This weakness directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 for exploitation of remote services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to completely compromise the database backend and potentially the entire web application infrastructure. An attacker could extract sensitive user information, modify or delete content, escalate privileges within the database, or even gain access to other systems if the database server has broader network access. The vulnerability affects all versions of eDreamers eDNews 2 where input validation is insufficient, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive information. The risk is compounded by the fact that this is a remote vulnerability, meaning attackers do not require physical access to the system to exploit it. Organizations running this software are particularly vulnerable if they do not have proper input validation, web application firewalls, or database access controls in place.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5820 should focus on immediate input validation and parameterized queries implementation. The most effective defense involves sanitizing all user input through proper escaping or using prepared statements with parameterized queries to separate sql logic from data. Organizations should implement web application firewalls that can detect and block sql injection attempts, particularly those targeting common parameter names like newsid. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, the affected eDreamers eDNews 2 software should be updated to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched, or the application should be replaced with a more secure alternative. Database access should be limited to the minimum required privileges for the web application, and all database connections should use encrypted channels to prevent data interception. System administrators should monitor database logs for suspicious activity and implement proper access controls to prevent unauthorized database modifications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and the principle of least privilege in web application development.