CVE-2009-0459 in Password Protect
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in admin/login_submit.php in Whole Hog Password Protect: Enhanced 1.x allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via (1) the uid parameter (aka Username field) or (2) the pwd parameter (aka Password field). NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0459 represents a critical SQL injection flaw in the Whole Hog Password Protect: Enhanced 1.x web application, specifically within the admin/login_submit.php component. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote code execution attacks through improper input validation mechanisms that fail to sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The affected parameters include both the uid (Username field) and pwd (Password field) parameters, which are processed without adequate sanitization or parameterization, creating exploitable pathways for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to employ proper input validation and query parameterization techniques. When user credentials are submitted through the login interface, the application directly concatenates the uid and pwd values into SQL queries without any sanitization or escaping mechanisms. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as a result of inadequate input validation and improper query construction. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input strings that contain SQL payload sequences, enabling them to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, or even gain administrative control over the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass scenarios, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive user data, including stored passwords and personal information. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from any location without requiring physical access to the system. This weakness creates significant risk for organizations relying on the affected password protection system, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the threat of unauthorized access through web application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-0459 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should implement prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions, ensuring that user input is properly escaped or validated before being incorporated into SQL operations. The application should also enforce strict input sanitization, rejecting or filtering out potentially malicious characters and sequences that could be used to manipulate database queries. Additionally, access controls should be strengthened to limit the privileges of database connections used by the application, implementing the principle of least privilege to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack.