CVE-2009-1626 in EZ-Blog
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in public/specific.php in EZ-Blog before Beta 2 20090427, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the category parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-1626 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the EZ-Blog content management system prior to its Beta 2 release dated April 27, 2009. This vulnerability specifically affects the public/specific.php script and demonstrates a classic weakness in input validation and query construction that has been consistently documented across numerous security frameworks and standards. The flaw manifests when the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, creating an environment where user-supplied data can directly influence database query execution without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the category parameter within the public/specific.php script. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the application fails to properly escape special characters in user input before incorporating them into SQL queries. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute within the database context, potentially enabling complete database compromise, data exfiltration, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, or deletion, depending on the privileges of the database user account used by the web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges within the application environment. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially gain access to administrative functions, modify content, or even establish persistent backdoors within the blog system. The vulnerability's exploitation is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it attractive to both skilled and less experienced attackers. This weakness directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1190 which addresses exploit public-facing application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve multiple layers of defense including immediate patching of the EZ-Blog application to the Beta 2 release or later versions that address this specific flaw. System administrators should also implement proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms, ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes sanitization before database interaction. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries would eliminate this class of vulnerability entirely. Additionally, disabling magic_quotes_gpc in PHP configurations should be accompanied by robust input validation frameworks, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.