CVE-2008-5974 in Active Price Comparison
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in login.aspx in Active Price Comparison 4.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) password and (2) username fields.
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-2008-5974 affects Active Price Comparison version 4.0 and represents a critical security flaw in the authentication mechanism of the web application. This issue stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the login.aspx page, which processes user credentials for system access. The vulnerability manifests as multiple SQL injection points that can be exploited by remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries. The specific attack vectors target the password and username fields, both of which are processed without adequate sanitization measures that would normally prevent malicious SQL code from being executed within the database context. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles for web application development and database interaction.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits specially crafted input strings into the username or password fields during the login process. These malicious inputs are not properly escaped or parameterized before being incorporated into SQL queries executed by the backend database. The resulting SQL injection allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user accounts, retrieving sensitive data from the database, or even executing administrative commands on the database server. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to complete system compromise. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because it targets the core authentication functionality of the application, making it a prime target for initial access and privilege escalation attempts.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5974 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access to user accounts. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially extract all user credentials, customer data, pricing information, and other sensitive business data stored within the application's database. The vulnerability enables a range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, account takeovers, and potential lateral movement within the network if the database server has access to other systems. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and data extraction. The ease of exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it requires minimal technical skill to leverage and can be automated through various exploitation frameworks. Organizations using Active Price Comparison 4.0 are at significant risk of data breaches and regulatory compliance violations if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5974 must focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application's codebase. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or upgrading to a newer version of the Active Price Comparison software that addresses these SQL injection vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement proper input sanitization techniques including the use of prepared statements and parameterized queries to prevent malicious SQL code from being executed. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense by monitoring for suspicious SQL injection patterns in network traffic. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security weaknesses in the application architecture. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project, which specifically addresses SQL injection as one of the most critical web application security risks.