CVE-2009-3116 in Church Portal
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in Uiga Church Portal allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the year parameter in a calendar action.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3116 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Uiga Church Portal web application, specifically affecting the index.php script when processing calendar-related actions. This security weakness enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query execution flow through the year parameter, which is processed during calendar operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's parameter handling logic, allowing attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries through carefully crafted malicious input.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL query construction. The year parameter in the calendar action serves as the attack vector where an attacker can inject malicious SQL syntax that alters the intended query behavior. This flaw directly maps to CWE-89, which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database. The vulnerability exists because the application employs dynamic query construction without proper parameterization or input sanitization, creating an environment where user-controllable data can be interpreted as executable SQL commands rather than simple data values.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive church portal data including member information, calendar entries, and other database-stored content. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, data exfiltration, modification of calendar events, and potential privilege escalation within the application. The attack surface is particularly concerning given the nature of church portal applications which often contain sensitive personal information, organizational data, and potentially confidential communications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access to systems and data, and represents a common vector for initial compromise in targeted attacks against religious organizations and community-based web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized query construction throughout the application codebase. The most effective remediation involves replacing dynamic SQL query building with prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate user input from SQL command structure. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization, output encoding, and least privilege database access controls can significantly reduce the attack surface. Regular security code reviews, implementation of web application firewalls, and comprehensive penetration testing should be conducted to identify and address similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also establish secure coding practices and vulnerability management processes to prevent similar issues in future development cycles, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web application security.