CVE-2008-6276 in User Karma module
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the User Karma module 5.x before 5.x-1.13 and 6.x before 6.x-1.0-beta1, a module for Drupal, allow remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary SQL commands via (1) a content type or (2) a voting API value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2017
The CVE-2008-6276 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the User Karma module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 5.x prior to 5.x-1.13 and 6.x prior to 6.x-1.0-beta1. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-89 which denotes SQL injection flaws, making it a serious threat to database integrity and system security. The vulnerability exists within a module designed to manage user karma scores and reputation systems, which are commonly used in community-driven Drupal websites to track user contributions and engagement levels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the User Karma module's handling of user-supplied data. When authenticated administrators interact with the module's administrative interfaces, the system fails to properly escape or parameterize user inputs before incorporating them into SQL queries. This allows attackers who have already gained administrative privileges to craft malicious inputs that manipulate the underlying database queries. The vulnerability manifests in two distinct attack vectors: one involving content type parameters and another through voting API value manipulations, both of which can be exploited to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform comprehensive database operations including data extraction, modification, deletion, and potentially even privilege escalation within the database environment. Since the vulnerability requires only authenticated administrator access, it represents a significant risk to systems where administrative credentials might be compromised through other attack vectors such as credential theft, session hijacking, or social engineering. The implications are particularly severe for Drupal sites that rely heavily on user reputation systems, as attackers could manipulate user scores, disable accounts, or extract sensitive user information from the database.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to patched versions of the User Karma module, applying the latest Drupal security releases, and implementing additional security measures such as input validation, query parameterization, and database access controls. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input sanitization, particularly for modules that handle user data and administrative functions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command injection and credential access, emphasizing the need for defense-in-depth strategies that include network segmentation, privileged access management, and regular security audits to prevent unauthorized access to administrative interfaces.