CVE-2008-5841 in iGaming
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in iGaming 1.5 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the browse parameter to (1) previews.php and (2) reviews.php, and the (3) id parameter to index.php in a viewarticle action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-5841 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting iGaming version 1.5 and earlier systems. This vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of user-supplied input within specific script parameters, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database infrastructure. The affected components include previews.php, reviews.php, and index.php scripts, which process the browse and id parameters respectively. These scripts fail to properly sanitize or validate input data before incorporating it into SQL query constructions, thereby exposing the system to malicious database manipulation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the iGaming application's web interface. When users interact with the browse parameter in previews.php and reviews.php, or the id parameter in index.php during viewarticle actions, the application directly incorporates these values into SQL queries without adequate sanitization. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is concatenated into SQL commands. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, exploiting the lack of proper parameterized queries or input filtering mechanisms that would normally prevent malicious SQL code from being executed within the database context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables full database compromise through remote execution of arbitrary SQL commands. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and gaming records stored within the database. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system or network, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for online gaming platforms that store valuable user information. Additionally, attackers could potentially modify or delete database contents, leading to complete system compromise and data integrity violations. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1190 category for exploitation of vulnerabilities, specifically targeting web application security flaws.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized query mechanisms throughout the affected application components. System administrators should implement proper input sanitization routines that filter or escape special characters commonly used in SQL injection attacks such as single quotes, semicolons, and comment markers. The most effective remediation involves transitioning from dynamic SQL query construction to parameterized queries or stored procedures that separate SQL code from user input data. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and database permissions can limit the damage from successful exploitation attempts, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards for web application security to prevent such widespread database compromise scenarios.