CVE-2009-2366 in ForumPal FE
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in login.asp in DataCheck Solutions ForumPal FE 1.1 and ForumPal 1.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) password parameter in 1.1 and (2) p_password parameter in 1.5. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2366 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting DataCheck Solutions ForumPal FE 1.1 and ForumPal 1.5 software versions. This security weakness resides within the login.asp component of the forum application, specifically targeting the authentication mechanism that processes user credentials. The vulnerability manifests through two distinct parameter injection points: the password parameter in version 1.1 and the p_password parameter in version 1.5, both of which fail to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into database queries. This flaw fundamentally compromises the integrity of the application's authentication system and creates a pathway for unauthorized access to the underlying database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter sanitization within the login processing script. When users attempt to authenticate, the application directly incorporates user-supplied values into SQL query strings without proper escaping or parameterization. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is concatenated into SQL commands. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input strings that, when processed through the vulnerable parameters, alter the intended SQL query structure. The injected SQL commands can then execute with the privileges of the database user account under which the application operates, potentially enabling full database compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access to user accounts. Remote attackers can leverage this SQL injection flaw to extract sensitive data from the database, including user credentials, personal information, and potentially system configuration details. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary code execution within the database context, enabling attackers to modify or delete database records, create new user accounts with elevated privileges, or even escalate their access to system-level operations. Given that this affects forum software, attackers could potentially gain access to private messages, user registration data, and other sensitive communications stored within the platform. The implications are particularly severe for organizations relying on these forum solutions for internal communications or customer support systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2366 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application's codebase, ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes rigorous sanitization before database interaction. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of ForumPal software or implement web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious SQL injection patterns. Additionally, following the principle of least privilege by restricting database user permissions and implementing proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users are essential defensive measures. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation as outlined in various security frameworks including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework under the credential access and execution tactics. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their web applications to identify similar injection vulnerabilities and establish robust security monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts.