CVE-2008-6031 in WSN Links
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in vote.php in WSN Links 2.22 and 2.23 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter. NOTE: it was later reported that 2.34 is also vulnerable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6031 represents a critical sql injection flaw in the WSN Links web application version 2.22 through 2.23, with subsequent confirmation that version 2.34 remains susceptible to the same attack vector. This vulnerability specifically affects the vote.php script which processes user voting functionality within the application. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user input before incorporating it into sql database queries, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database operations through crafted input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the id parameter handling mechanism. When users submit votes through the voting interface, the application accepts the id value directly from the http request without adequate sanitization or parameterized query construction. This allows attackers to inject malicious sql code that gets executed within the database context, potentially enabling complete database compromise. The vulnerability maps directly to cwe-89 which defines sql injection as the insertion of malicious sql code into input fields for execution by the database. This weakness specifically manifests as a failure to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied data before database query construction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data manipulation, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary sql commands on the affected database server. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and application configuration details. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects not only the current voting functionality but potentially the entire database backend that supports the WSN Links application. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, modify or delete database records, and potentially establish persistent access through database-level backdoors. This vulnerability aligns with attack techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy under the category of sql injection attacks, where the primary goal is database compromise through malicious input manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of parameterized queries and input validation mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective remediation involves replacing direct sql string concatenation with proper parameterized sql queries that separate user input from sql command structure. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization routines that filter or escape special sql characters from user-supplied parameters will significantly reduce the attack surface. The application should also implement proper error handling that prevents database error messages from being exposed to end users, as these can provide valuable information for further exploitation attempts. Security measures should include regular input validation, database access controls, and monitoring for unusual database activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation layers as additional protective measures against similar vulnerabilities in legacy applications.