CVE-2008-6798 in Pre Real Estate Listings
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in login.php in Pre Projects Pre Real Estate Listings allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via (1) the us parameter (aka the Username field) or (2) the ps parameter (aka the Password field).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6798 represents a critical security flaw in the Pre Projects Pre Real Estate Listings web application where multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities exist within the login.php script. This vulnerability affects the authentication mechanism of the application and exposes it to remote exploitation by malicious actors who can manipulate the login process through carefully crafted input parameters. The specific parameters affected are the us parameter, which corresponds to the Username field, and the ps parameter, which maps to the Password field, both of which are processed without proper input sanitization or parameterization.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate user input before incorporating it into SQL query constructs. When users submit their credentials through the login form, the application directly concatenates the us and ps parameters into SQL statements without employing prepared statements or proper input validation techniques. This design flaw allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that can alter the intended query execution flow, potentially enabling them to bypass authentication, extract sensitive database information, or even modify database records. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides remote attackers with the capability to compromise the entire authentication system of the real estate listings platform. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, view sensitive property listings, manipulate database entries, or potentially escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core login functionality, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. This type of vulnerability also enables attackers to perform data exfiltration operations, potentially accessing confidential user information including personal details, contact information, and potentially financial data related to property listings.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass as it can be leveraged for broader database exploitation activities. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that utilize SQL injection techniques to extract database schemas, retrieve stored passwords, or even execute operating system commands if the database server has appropriate privileges. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries in web applications. The remediation approach must include immediate implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions, comprehensive input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data, and regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing to identify similar issues in other parts of the application.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should consider implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, while also conducting thorough code reviews to identify additional instances of unsafe SQL query construction. The vulnerability exemplifies the fundamental principle that authentication mechanisms must be protected against injection attacks, as highlighted in various security frameworks including the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Proper implementation of the principle of least privilege and regular security updates should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the application.