CVE-2008-6152 in Faculty Portal
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in deptdisplay.asp in SepCity Faculty Portal allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the ID parameter. NOTE: this was originally reported for Lawyer Portal, which does not have a deptdisplay.asp file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6152 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the sepfacultyportal application suite, specifically targeting the deptdisplay.asp component. This issue affects the sepfacultyportal software version 1.0 and potentially other iterations that share the same vulnerable code structure. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql query constructions. The affected parameter, ID, serves as the primary attack vector where malicious actors can inject sql commands that bypass normal authentication and authorization controls. This vulnerability was originally misclassified under the lawyer portal designation but was later correctly attributed to the sepfacultyportal application, highlighting the importance of accurate vulnerability classification and mapping to specific software components.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the ID parameter within the deptdisplay.asp script, which processes user requests and dynamically constructs sql queries based on input values. When an attacker submits malicious sql code through this parameter, the application fails to properly escape or filter special sql characters and keywords, allowing the injected commands to execute within the database context. This flaw directly maps to CWE-89, which defines sql injection as the improper handling of sql command structure within applications, creating conditions where user-supplied data can alter the intended flow of sql statements. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, deletion, and potentially administrative actions that compromise the entire database infrastructure. The lack of proper input validation and output encoding creates a persistent risk where any user interaction with the ID parameter can serve as a potential attack surface for sql injection exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-6152 extends beyond simple data compromise to encompass complete system integrity breaches that can result in unauthorized access to sensitive faculty and departmental information. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential data such as personal identification numbers, contact information, academic records, and potentially administrative credentials that could facilitate further attacks within the network. The vulnerability's remote nature eliminates the need for physical access or local system compromise, making it particularly dangerous for web-based applications. Organizations utilizing the sepfacultyportal system face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences due to unauthorized data access. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this vulnerability affects the core functionality of the faculty portal, which typically contains sensitive institutional data and may serve as a gateway to other connected systems through lateral movement techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues in the future. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries that separate sql command structure from user data, effectively neutralizing the sql injection threat through proper data sanitization techniques. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious sql injection patterns, while also implementing comprehensive code review processes that specifically target sql injection vulnerabilities using established security frameworks such as the owasp top ten. Database access controls should be strengthened through principle of least privilege implementation, ensuring that application accounts have minimal necessary permissions to reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the application codebase, with particular attention to input handling mechanisms and sql query construction processes. The implementation of proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users further reduces the attack surface and prevents information leakage that could aid in exploitation attempts.