CVE-2008-6941 in Web Hosting Directory
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the login functionality in TurnkeyForms Web Hosting Directory allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the password field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6941 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the TurnkeyForms Web Hosting Directory application's authentication mechanism. This security weakness specifically targets the password field validation process during user login operations, creating an exploitable condition that enables malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input. The vulnerability resides in the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL command structures, thereby allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code that can be executed by the underlying database system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits specially crafted input through the password field during the authentication process. The application's insufficient input validation and sanitization allows the malicious SQL commands to bypass normal security controls and execute with the privileges of the database user account associated with the TurnkeyForms application. This flaw falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a critical weakness in software applications that handle database operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper parameterized queries or input escaping mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially allow attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even gain unauthorized administrative access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can lead to complete system takeover and unauthorized access to sensitive customer information stored within the web hosting directory database. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized database operations including but not limited to data exfiltration, account enumeration, privilege escalation, and potentially even remote code execution depending on the database system's configuration and the privileges granted to the application's database user. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire web hosting directory service, potentially exposing personal information of website owners, hosting details, and other sensitive business data that users trust the system to protect.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6941 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized query execution throughout the application's codebase. The most effective remediation involves replacing direct SQL query construction with parameterized queries or stored procedures that separate SQL code from user input data. Organizations should also implement proper input sanitization measures, including character encoding, length validation, and whitelist-based input filtering to prevent malicious content from being processed. Additionally, the application should enforce proper database access controls, ensuring that the database user account used by the TurnkeyForms application has the minimum required privileges necessary for operation. Security measures should include regular code reviews, penetration testing, and vulnerability scanning to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the application's authentication and data handling processes. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access, and T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage for persistence and privilege escalation.