CVE-2009-4037 in FrontAccounting
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in FrontAccounting (FA) before 2.1.7, and 2.2.x before 2.2 RC, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified parameters to (1) admin/db/users_db.inc, and various other .inc and .php files under (2) admin/, (3) dimensions/, (4) gl/, (5) inventory/, (6) manufacturing/, and (7) purchasing/.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4037 represents a critical security flaw in FrontAccounting, an open-source accounting software platform widely used by small to medium enterprises for financial management. This vulnerability manifests as multiple SQL injection flaws that exist across several core modules of the application, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.1.7 and 2.2 release candidates. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through unspecified parameters, fundamentally compromising the database integrity and potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input parameters within various administrative and functional modules of FrontAccounting. Attackers can target multiple entry points including the admin/db/users_db.inc file and numerous .inc and .php files across different module directories such as admin/, dimensions/, gl/, inventory/, manufacturing/, and purchasing/. These locations represent critical administrative functions and core business processes where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into SQL queries. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper parameter handling within the application's database interaction layers, allowing malicious SQL code to be injected and executed with the privileges of the database user account.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4037 is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with direct access to the underlying database infrastructure. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion of financial records, user credentials, and business information. The vulnerability affects core accounting functions including general ledger management, inventory tracking, purchasing processes, and dimensional reporting, potentially causing significant financial disruption and compliance violations. Organizations using affected versions of FrontAccounting face risks of data breaches, financial fraud, and operational continuity issues, particularly given that many small businesses rely heavily on accurate financial data for decision-making and regulatory compliance.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected FrontAccounting installations to versions 2.1.7 or later 2.2 releases where the SQL injection flaws have been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in custom modifications or extensions. Network segmentation and database access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a common attack vector categorized under ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071 for application layer protocols, highlighting the need for robust application security measures and regular vulnerability assessments to protect critical business infrastructure.