CVE-2008-6851 in PHP Link Directory
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in page.php in PHP Link Directory (phpLD) 3.3, when register_globals is enabled and magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the name parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6851 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PHP Link Directory (phpLD) version 3.3 application. This security weakness specifically targets the page.php script and exploits a dangerous combination of server configuration settings that create an exploitable environment for remote attackers. The vulnerability manifests when the web server operates with register_globals enabled and magic_quotes_gpc disabled, conditions that significantly weaken the application's input validation mechanisms and expose it to malicious SQL command injection attempts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the name parameter within the page.php script. When register_globals is enabled, PHP automatically creates global variables from request data, effectively bypassing normal input sanitization procedures. Meanwhile, the absence of magic_quotes_gpc means that the application does not automatically escape special characters in GET, POST, and COOKIE data, leaving the application's database queries vulnerable to malicious input. Attackers can craft specially formatted name parameter values that, when processed by the vulnerable application, get directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization, allowing them to execute arbitrary database commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected database system. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers may extract sensitive information including user credentials, database structure details, and application configuration data. The vulnerability also enables attackers to escalate privileges within the database environment, potentially allowing them to execute operating system commands or establish persistent backdoors. Given that phpLD is a link directory application, the compromise could lead to malicious redirection of users or injection of harmful content into the directory listings.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention to both the application configuration and the underlying software environment. The primary recommendation involves disabling register_globals in the PHP configuration file and ensuring that magic_quotes_gpc is properly enabled or that proper input sanitization is implemented within the application code. Organizations should also upgrade to newer versions of phpLD that have addressed this vulnerability through proper parameter validation and prepared statement usage. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a classic example of how insecure coding practices combined with dangerous server configurations can create exploitable security weaknesses. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in preventing remote code execution through database layer attacks.