CVE-2009-2545 in Advanced Electron Forum
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Advanced Electron Forum (AEF) 1.x, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the filename in an uploaded attachment. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2545 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Advanced Electron Forum (AEF) version 1.x software suite. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, creating a dangerous condition where malicious actors can manipulate database operations through carefully crafted input. The attack vector exploits the filename parameter associated with uploaded attachments, which are processed without adequate input sanitization or parameterization. This weakness falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, a fundamental flaw that allows attackers to execute unauthorized database commands and potentially gain complete control over the underlying database system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of user-supplied data within the attachment upload functionality of AEF. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, PHP does not automatically escape special characters in GET, POST, and COOKIE data, leaving the application susceptible to injection attacks. Attackers can manipulate the filename parameter of uploaded attachments to inject malicious SQL payloads that bypass normal input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the database interaction layer, where successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, or complete database compromise. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access to backend systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the affected database server. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive user information, forum data, and potentially system-level privileges depending on the database configuration and permissions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in forum environments where user-generated content is common, as it leverages the legitimate attachment upload functionality to deliver malicious payloads. The risk is amplified by the fact that the vulnerability only requires remote access to the forum application, making it accessible to attackers without physical system access. Organizations running AEF 1.x without magic_quotes_gpc enabled face significant exposure to this attack vector, which could lead to complete system compromise and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2545 must address both immediate and long-term security concerns. The most effective immediate solution involves enabling magic_quotes_gpc in PHP configuration or implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries for all database interactions. Organizations should also consider upgrading to newer versions of AEF that have addressed this vulnerability, as version 1.x is no longer maintained and likely contains additional unpatched security issues. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, input sanitization routines, and regular security audits can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all user-supplied data is properly escaped or parameterized before database interaction, following industry best practices established in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.