CVE-2008-5851 in MyPBS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in My PHP Baseball Stats (MyPBS) allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the seasonID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5851 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the My PHP Baseball Stats (MyPBS) web application. This vulnerability specifically affects the index.php file and resides in the seasonID parameter handling mechanism, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. The flaw demonstrates a classic improper input validation issue that has been classified under CWE-89, which encompasses SQL injection vulnerabilities where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input for the seasonID parameter, which is then processed by the application without proper sanitization measures. This allows the attacker to inject malicious SQL syntax that gets executed by the database server, potentially enabling unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to implement proper input validation or parameterized queries, making it susceptible to manipulation through crafted SQL commands that can bypass authentication mechanisms and access sensitive database information. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring any special privileges or authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive statistical data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential information about baseball statistics, player records, team data, and potentially user credentials if the database contains such information. The vulnerability also enables attackers to modify or delete database entries, potentially corrupting the entire baseball statistics database. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1190 for Proxying, as attackers may need to establish command and control channels to maintain access and exfiltrate data. The exposure of such a vulnerability in a sports statistics application could also result in reputational damage and potential regulatory compliance issues, particularly if sensitive personal information of users or players is compromised.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent user-supplied data from being interpreted as SQL commands. This approach aligns with the OWASP Top Ten security practices and follows the principle of least privilege when handling database connections. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, input sanitization filters, and regular security code reviews can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The application should also be updated to use prepared statements or stored procedures that separate SQL code from data, ensuring that user input cannot alter the intended structure of SQL queries. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and intrusion detection systems to detect and respond to exploitation attempts in real-time.