CVE-2008-6434 in Sava CMS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.cfm in Blue River Interactive Group Sava CMS before 5.0.122 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the LinkServID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6434 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Blue River Interactive Group Sava CMS software version 5.0.121 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the index.cfm script which processes user input through the LinkServID parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database queries. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL command structures. According to CWE-89, this falls under the category of SQL Injection where untrusted data is directly embedded into database queries without proper protection measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. When the LinkServID parameter receives malicious input, the application fails to properly sanitize this data before using it in database operations, allowing attackers to inject additional SQL syntax that can manipulate database contents, extract sensitive information, or even gain elevated privileges within the database environment. This type of attack can lead to complete database compromise and unauthorized access to all stored information including user credentials, personal data, and business-critical records. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005 which describes the use of application layer protocols for data exfiltration and command execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential system compromise and business disruption. Organizations running affected versions of Sava CMS face significant risk of unauthorized data access, data corruption, and potential service interruption. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform various malicious activities including but not limited to credential theft, data manipulation, and establishment of persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire CMS platform, potentially compromising multiple websites managed by the same system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6434 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Sava CMS software to version 5.0.122 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent similar issues in other applications. Database access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to limit the privileges of database accounts used by the CMS application. Additionally, network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious SQL query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers against SQL injection attacks targeting the affected parameter. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the broader application ecosystem, ensuring compliance with security standards such as those outlined in ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.