CVE-2009-2886 in President Bios
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in bios.php in PHP Scripts Now President Bios allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the rank parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2886 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the bios.php script of the PHP Scripts Now President Bios application. This vulnerability specifically targets the rank parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the application's database layer. The flaw exists in the input validation mechanism where user-supplied data from the rank parameter is directly incorporated into sql query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the rank parameter in the bios.php script. The application fails to validate or escape the input data before incorporating it into sql statements, creating an environment where sql commands can be executed with the privileges of the database user associated with the web application. This allows attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, or deletion, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as classified by CWE-20, specifically manifesting as CWE-89 sql injection.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using the PHP Scripts Now President Bios application. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw from any location without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can manipulate the database schema, escalate privileges, or even gain access to underlying operating system resources depending on the database configuration and permissions. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system, representing a severe threat to information security. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.004 for application layer protocols, specifically targeting web applications through sql injection techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2886 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries. Organizations should implement prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input cannot be interpreted as sql commands. Input sanitization measures including character filtering, length validation, and whitelist validation should be enforced. Additionally, the application should employ proper error handling that does not reveal database structure information to users. The recommended approach aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP top ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, emphasizing the importance of input validation and secure coding practices. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security weaknesses in the application architecture.