CVE-2008-5927 in FlexPHPNews
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in admin/usercheck.php in FlexPHPNews 0.0.6 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) checkuser parameter (aka username field) or (2) checkpass parameter (aka password field) to admin/index.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5927 represents a critical security flaw in FlexPHPNews version 0.0.6, specifically within the admin/usercheck.php component. This issue manifests as multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities that enable remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. The vulnerability exists in the authentication mechanism where user credentials are processed without proper input sanitization or validation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the checkuser parameter, which corresponds to the username field, or the checkpass parameter, representing the password field, when submitting data to the admin/index.php endpoint. These parameters are directly incorporated into SQL queries without appropriate escaping or parameterization techniques, creating an avenue for malicious input to alter the intended query execution flow.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a weakness that occurs when an application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into SQL queries. The flaw operates at the application layer where user-supplied data enters the system through web forms and is subsequently processed by the backend database engine. When the checkuser and checkpass parameters are submitted, the application constructs SQL statements that directly include these values, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL syntax that can manipulate the database queries. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can potentially allow attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even execute system commands depending on the database configuration and privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5927 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with extensive database manipulation capabilities. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, allowing attackers to read confidential information, modify or delete records, and potentially gain deeper system access. The vulnerability affects the authentication process specifically, meaning that attackers could bypass login mechanisms entirely or escalate privileges within the application. This represents a significant threat to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the information system, particularly when considering that the affected application likely handles user accounts and potentially sensitive news content or administrative data. The remote nature of the attack means that no local system access is required, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for web applications exposed to public networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental lack of input validation and proper SQL query construction. The primary remediation involves implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements that separate the SQL command structure from the user input data. All user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in authentication flows, should undergo strict input validation and sanitization before being processed. Additionally, the application should employ proper error handling that does not expose database internals to end users. The principle of least privilege should be applied to database connections, ensuring that the application uses accounts with minimal required permissions. Security measures should include input filtering to prevent SQL metacharacters from being processed, implementing proper session management, and regularly updating the application to address known vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, while following ATT&CK framework guidance for detecting and mitigating SQL injection attacks through behavioral analysis and network monitoring techniques.