CVE-2009-3308 in FanUpdate
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in show-cat.php in FanUpdate 2.2.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the listingid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3308 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the FanUpdate 2.2.1 web application, specifically affecting the show-cat.php script. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote code execution attacks through improper input validation mechanisms. The flaw occurs when the application fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied data passed through the listingid parameter, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries. The vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly incorporated into sql commands without proper escaping or parameterization. This weakness is particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even gain complete control over the underlying database system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands with the privileges of the database user account. When a remote attacker submits malicious input through the listingid parameter, the application processes this data without proper validation, allowing the attacker to inject sql code that gets executed by the database engine. This can result in unauthorized data access, data corruption, or complete database takeover depending on the attacker's objectives and the database permissions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications where the database user account may have elevated privileges, potentially allowing attackers to escalate their access and compromise the entire application infrastructure. The attack vector is straightforward requiring only a web browser and basic sql injection techniques to exploit the vulnerability.
Security practitioners should implement comprehensive input validation measures to address this vulnerability, including parameterized queries, proper sql escaping, and input sanitization techniques. The recommended mitigations align with industry best practices such as those outlined in the owasp top ten project and the mitre attack framework, where sql injection is categorized as a critical threat requiring immediate remediation. Organizations should ensure that all user inputs are properly validated and sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation layers can provide additional protection against such attacks. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping web applications updated with the latest security patches, as this flaw existed in version 2.2.1 and was likely addressed in subsequent releases. Database access controls should be reviewed to ensure that application accounts have minimal required privileges, following the principle of least privilege to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.