CVE-2009-1247 in Control Panel
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in login.php in Acute Control Panel 1.0.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username parameter.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2024
The CVE-2009-1247 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw in the Acute Control Panel version 1.0.0 authentication mechanism. This vulnerability specifically targets the login.php script where user input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL database queries. The flaw exists in the handling of the username parameter, which allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL code that can be executed on the underlying database server. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which defines SQL injection as the improper inclusion of user-supplied data into SQL queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to the control panel's backend systems. When an attacker submits a specially crafted username parameter containing SQL injection payloads, the application processes this input directly within the database query without proper input validation or sanitization. This creates an avenue for attackers to manipulate database queries and potentially extract sensitive information, modify database contents, or even execute administrative commands on the database server. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it occurs during the authentication phase, allowing attackers to either gain unauthorized access to legitimate user accounts or escalate privileges within the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-1247 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete system compromise and data breaches. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially access all user accounts, retrieve sensitive database information including passwords stored in plain text, and manipulate or delete critical system data. The vulnerability also aligns with several tactics from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and persistence. Threat actors can use this vulnerability as an initial access vector to establish a foothold within the network, potentially using the compromised control panel as a launchpad for further attacks. The impact is exacerbated by the fact that this vulnerability affects a control panel system, which often serves as a central management interface for network infrastructure, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking broad system control.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input sanitization techniques where all user-supplied data is validated against expected formats and sanitized before database interaction. Database query parameterization should be employed to ensure that user input is treated as data rather than executable code. Additionally, access controls should be strengthened to limit database access privileges, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for preventing injection flaws in web applications.