CVE-2008-5958 in Active Test
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Active Test 2.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the QuizID parameter to (1) questions.asp, (2) importquestions.asp, and (3) quiztakers.asp.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5958 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Active Test 2.1, a web-based testing platform that facilitates quiz creation and management. This vulnerability affects three distinct web pages including questions.asp, importquestions.asp, and quiztakers.asp, all of which process user input through the QuizID parameter. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter malicious SQL code submitted by unauthorized users. The affected application processes the QuizID parameter directly within SQL queries without appropriate security measures, creating an exploitable pathway for remote attackers to manipulate database operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious SQL payloads within the QuizID parameter, enabling them to execute arbitrary database commands on the underlying database system. The impact extends beyond simple data retrieval as attackers can perform destructive operations including data modification, deletion, or unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the application's database. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, allowing exploitation from any location with internet connectivity.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, potentially compromising the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the testing platform's data. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to user information, quiz results, and administrative credentials stored within the database. The impact is particularly concerning in educational or corporate environments where Active Test 2.1 might be used to manage sensitive assessments and personal data. Additionally, the vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges within the application, potentially leading to full system compromise or the ability to manipulate test outcomes and academic records.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent malicious SQL code from being executed. The application should sanitize all user inputs through whitelisting mechanisms that only accept expected data formats and reject any potentially harmful characters. Database access controls should be enforced through least privilege principles, ensuring that the application's database accounts have minimal necessary permissions. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional monitoring and blocking capabilities. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, following ATT&CK framework principles for defensive measures against persistent threats. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in preventing database-related security breaches that can have far-reaching consequences for data integrity and system availability.