CVE-2009-3503 in BPHolidayLettings
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in search.aspx in BPowerHouse BPHolidayLettings 1.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) rid and (2) tid parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3503 affects BPowerHouse BPHolidayLettings version 1.0 and represents a critical security flaw in the web application's input validation mechanisms. This issue manifests through multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities within the search.aspx page, which serves as the primary interface for users to search for holiday accommodations. The vulnerability specifically targets two parameters named rid and tid, which are likely used to filter search results based on region and type identifiers respectively. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious SQL code directly into these parameters, bypassing normal input sanitization controls that should protect against such attacks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework and is consistently ranked among the top ten web application security risks by OWASP.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user input containing malicious SQL commands is passed directly to database queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. When an attacker submits specially crafted values for the rid and tid parameters, the application's backend processes these inputs directly within SQL statements, allowing the attacker to manipulate the database query execution flow. This can result in unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete database compromise. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can potentially execute administrative database commands, create backdoors, or escalate privileges within the application's database environment. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and indicates that the application does not employ proper parameterized queries or prepared statements to handle user-supplied data.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-3503 is severe and multifaceted, affecting both the confidentiality and integrity of the application's data repository. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and business-critical information stored in the database. The vulnerability also poses significant risks to system availability as attackers could potentially execute destructive commands such as data deletion or database corruption. Organizations using BPHolidayLettings 1.0 are particularly vulnerable since this represents a remote code execution vulnerability that does not require authentication or physical access to the system. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability affects all users who can access the search functionality, making it a prime target for automated scanning tools and malicious actors seeking to compromise web applications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, which are commonly used by threat actors to gain initial access to target systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3503 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks, which should be done by replacing direct string concatenation with prepared statements or parameterized queries in the application code. Organizations should also implement proper output encoding and implement the principle of least privilege for database accounts used by the web application. Additional security measures include input sanitization, regular security code reviews, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Given the age of the affected software version, upgrading to a patched version or migrating to a more secure platform represents the most effective long-term solution to address this vulnerability and prevent similar issues in future deployments.