CVE-2009-1952 in PropertyMax Pro FREE
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the administrative login feature in PropertyMax Pro FREE 0.3, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) username and (2) password parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1952 represents a critical security flaw in the PropertyMax Pro FREE 0.3 web application that affects the administrative login functionality. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the authentication mechanism, creating multiple entry points for malicious actors to exploit. The vulnerability specifically targets the username and password parameters used during administrative login processes, making it particularly dangerous as it directly impacts the core authentication system of the application. The flaw becomes exploitable when the PHP configuration setting magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, which removes the automatic escaping of special characters that would otherwise prevent malicious input from being interpreted as SQL commands.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the application does not automatically escape special characters in incoming data, leaving the database layer vulnerable to injection attacks. Attackers can manipulate the username and password parameters by inserting malicious SQL syntax that gets executed within the application's database queries. This allows unauthorized individuals to bypass authentication mechanisms, potentially gaining administrative access to the system and executing arbitrary database operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and demonstrates how inadequate input validation can create persistent security risks within web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-1952 extends beyond simple authentication bypass, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially allowing for data exfiltration, modification of critical system information, or even the complete destruction of database contents. The administrative access gained through this vulnerability provides attackers with the ability to manipulate user accounts, modify property listings, and potentially access sensitive customer data stored within the PropertyMax Pro system. This type of vulnerability also enables attackers to establish persistent access points and can serve as a stepping stone for further network infiltration, particularly in environments where the application shares database resources with other systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms. The most effective approach involves implementing parameterized queries or prepared statements to ensure that user input cannot be interpreted as SQL commands regardless of the magic_quotes_gpc setting. Additionally, the application should enforce strict input validation on all authentication parameters, rejecting any input containing potentially dangerous SQL characters or sequences. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, though this represents a secondary defense measure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and the principle of least privilege in application design. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as SQL injection remains one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security threats. The specific nature of this vulnerability also highlights the need for proper PHP configuration management and the importance of not relying on deprecated security mechanisms for protection.