CVE-2009-2004 in Dokeos
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in main/mySpace/myStudents.php in Dokeos 1.8.5, and possibly earlier, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) student and (2) course parameters, a different vector than CVE-2007-2902.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2004 affects Dokeos version 1.8.5 and potentially earlier releases, representing a critical security flaw in the web-based learning management system. This vulnerability manifests as multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities within the main/mySpace/myStudents.php file, which serves as a key component in the platform's student and course management functionality. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system, potentially compromising the entire platform's data integrity and confidentiality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's parameter handling mechanisms. Specifically, the student and course parameters within the myStudents.php script fail to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. This allows malicious actors to inject specially crafted SQL payloads that bypass normal authentication and authorization checks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no privileged access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged from any remote location with network access to the vulnerable system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to educational institutions utilizing Dokeos platforms. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive student information, modify course enrollments, manipulate grades, and potentially gain administrative privileges within the learning management system. The attack vector described in CVE-2009-2004 differs from CVE-2007-2902, indicating that this represents a distinct pathway for exploitation that security teams must consider when implementing protective measures. Organizations could face regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and reputational damage if these vulnerabilities are exploited in production environments.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2004 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Dokeos installations to version 1.8.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the SQL injection vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries within the application code would prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense, while regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which describes SQL injection flaws, and represents a technique that could be categorized under ATT&CK tactic TA0006 (Credential Access) and TA0002 (Execution) within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures across multiple defensive layers.