CVE-2009-3968 in ITechBids
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in ITechBids 8.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) user_id parameter to feedback.php, (2) cate_id parameter to category.php, (3) id parameter to news.php, and (4) productid parameter to itechd.php. NOTE: the sellers_othersitem.php, classifieds.php, and shop.php vectors are already covered by CVE-2008-3238.
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 described in CVE-2009-3968 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting ITechBids version 8.0, a web-based auction platform that enables users to list and bid on various products. This vulnerability exposes multiple attack vectors within the application's input handling mechanisms, allowing remote attackers to manipulate database queries through specifically targeted parameters in different PHP scripts. The affected components include feedback.php, category.php, news.php, and itechd.php, each representing distinct entry points where user-supplied data is improperly sanitized before being incorporated into database operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. Attackers can exploit these flaws by injecting malicious SQL code through the identified parameters, enabling them to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data from the database, modify or delete records, and potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying database system. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and parameter sanitization practices, where user-provided values are directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper escaping or prepared statement usage, creating a direct pathway for malicious code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it enables attackers to perform extensive database operations including but not limited to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and system reconnaissance. Remote attackers can leverage these injection points to enumerate database schemas, extract user credentials, customer information, auction listings, and other sensitive business data. The interconnected nature of these vulnerabilities across multiple scripts suggests a systemic design flaw in the application's data handling architecture, where input validation was not consistently implemented across all entry points. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage, as attackers would utilize these injection points to establish persistent access and conduct further reconnaissance.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate implementation of parameterized queries and prepared statements across all database interactions within the affected applications. Input validation and sanitization mechanisms must be strengthened to reject or escape special characters that could be used in SQL injection attacks. The application should implement proper error handling that does not reveal database structure information to end users, and all database connections should utilize least privilege principles with restricted permissions. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade to a patched version of ITechBids, while network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Regular security code reviews and penetration testing should be implemented to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components, ensuring comprehensive protection against SQL injection threats. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.