CVE-2009-2788 in Mobilelib GOLD
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Mobilelib GOLD 3 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) adminName parameter to cp/auth.php, (2) cid parameter to artcat.php, and (3) catid parameter to show.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2788 represents a critical security flaw in Mobilelib GOLD 3, a mobile content management system that was widely deployed for handling multimedia content on mobile devices. This vulnerability manifests as multiple SQL injection flaws that collectively undermine the integrity and confidentiality of the system's database operations. The affected parameters adminName in cp/auth.php, cid in artcat.php, and catid in show.php all serve as entry points for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database through crafted input sequences. These injection points directly compromise the application's ability to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into SQL queries, creating opportunities for unauthorized database access and manipulation.
The technical exploitation of these vulnerabilities follows standard SQL injection attack patterns where malicious input is crafted to alter the intended execution flow of database queries. When an attacker submits specially crafted values through any of the three vulnerable parameters, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into SQL commands. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that executes with the privileges of the database user account used by the application. The impact extends beyond simple data retrieval to include potential data modification, deletion, or even database schema alteration, depending on the privileges assigned to the application's database connection.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, affecting both the availability and integrity of mobile content management services. Remote attackers can exploit these flaws without requiring local system access or authentication, making the attack surface particularly dangerous for publicly accessible systems. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, allowing attackers to exfiltrate sensitive content, user credentials, or business-critical data stored within the mobile content management system. The vulnerability's presence in authentication and content management components particularly threatens the system's security posture, as it could enable attackers to gain administrative privileges or manipulate content distribution channels.
Organizations affected by CVE-2009-2788 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and parameterized query usage to prevent SQL injection exploitation. The CWE-89 standard categorizes this vulnerability as a classic SQL injection flaw, while the MITRE ATT&CK framework would classify this under the T1190 technique for exploitation of remote services. Security measures should include implementing proper input sanitization, using prepared statements or parameterized queries, and establishing robust database access controls. Additionally, network segmentation and regular security assessments can help reduce the attack surface and detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and regular vulnerability assessments in web application development, particularly for systems handling sensitive mobile content and user data.