CVE-2008-6289 in Tours Manager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in cityview.php in Tours Manager 1.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the cityid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6289 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Tours Manager 1.0 web application, specifically affecting the cityview.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the cityid parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries by injecting malicious sql commands through the web interface, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89, which categorizes sql injection as a serious security flaw that occurs when an application fails to properly escape or validate user input before incorporating it into sql queries. The cityview.php script likely constructs sql statements dynamically using the cityid parameter directly from the http request, without employing parameterized queries or proper input filtering mechanisms. This creates an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can alter the intended sql execution flow.
Operationally, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification. Remote attackers can potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the Tours Manager database, including customer details, booking records, and other confidential data. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary sql command execution, which means attackers could escalate their privileges, extract entire database schemas, or even execute system-level commands if the web application has sufficient database permissions. This represents a significant risk to both data confidentiality and system integrity, particularly in environments where the application handles sensitive user information.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be accomplished through standard web application penetration testing techniques. Attackers typically construct malicious payloads that manipulate the cityid parameter to inject sql commands such as union selects, boolean based injections, or time-based blind sql injection techniques. The vulnerability affects all versions of Tours Manager 1.0 and demonstrates poor input validation practices that are commonly found in legacy web applications. Organizations using this software face substantial risk of data breaches and regulatory compliance violations, particularly in environments governed by standards such as pci dss or gdpr.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements to ensure that user input is properly separated from sql command structure. The cityid parameter must be validated against a whitelist of acceptable values or properly escaped using database-specific escaping functions. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization, output encoding, and least privilege database access controls can significantly reduce the attack surface. Regular security code reviews and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process should also include updating the Tours Manager application to the latest version if available, or implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring to detect unusual sql query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure coding practices and demonstrates how simple input validation failures can lead to severe security consequences, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security awareness training and adherence to secure development lifecycle principles.