CVE-2008-6422 in PsychoStats
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in PsychoStats 2.3, 2.3.1, and 2.3.3 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter to (1) weapon.php and (2) map.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6422 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting PsychoStats versions 2.3, 2.3.1, and 2.3.3. This vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of user input within specific PHP scripts, namely weapon.php and map.php, where the id parameter serves as the primary attack vector. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. This oversight creates a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands directly into the database layer, potentially compromising the entire backend infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious payloads that manipulate the id parameter to execute unauthorized database operations. The attack surface extends across multiple operational domains within the PsychoStats platform, as both weapon.php and map.php scripts process user input without adequate sanitization, creating two distinct entry points for exploitation. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access to the system, enabling them to leverage this weakness from any location with network connectivity to the affected web application.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-6422 is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even gain complete administrative control over the affected system. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to player statistics, game metrics, and other sensitive information stored within the PsychoStats database. The vulnerability also enables attackers to manipulate game data, potentially corrupting the integrity of statistical reporting and undermining the credibility of the platform. Additionally, the compromise of database access could facilitate further attacks on the underlying infrastructure, as database credentials and system configurations might be exposed during exploitation attempts.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. The attack chain typically involves reconnaissance to identify the vulnerable PsychoStats version, followed by crafting of malicious SQL injection payloads targeting the specific id parameters in weapon.php and map.php. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to the latest available version of PsychoStats, implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and establish robust database access controls to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts.