CVE-2009-4070 in GForge
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in GForge 4.5.14, 4.7.3, and possibly other versions allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unknown vectors.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4070 represents a critical sql injection flaw within GForge version 4.5.14, 4.7.3, and potentially other iterations of this collaborative development platform. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input within database queries, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database infrastructure. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql command structures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unknown vectors that likely involve parameter manipulation within web forms, api endpoints, or url parameters that are subsequently processed by the application's database layer. Attackers can craft malicious input that gets directly embedded into sql queries without proper escaping or parameterization, allowing them to execute arbitrary sql commands on the database server. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into sql queries without adequate sanitization. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that GForge is a comprehensive platform for software development collaboration, hosting sensitive project data, user credentials, and development artifacts that would be highly valuable to adversaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise, unauthorized access to user accounts, modification or deletion of critical project information, and potential lateral movement within the organization's network infrastructure. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, create backdoors, or establish persistent access to the system. The attack pattern aligns with tactics described in the attack technique framework under T1190 for exploit public-facing application, where adversaries target web applications to gain initial access to target systems. Organizations using affected GForge versions face significant risk of data breaches, intellectual property theft, and system compromise that could affect multiple development projects and user accounts simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4070 should prioritize immediate patching of affected GForge installations to the latest available versions that contain proper input validation and sql injection protection mechanisms. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries and prepared statements throughout the application codebase to prevent sql injection vulnerabilities from reoccurring. Input validation should be strengthened at multiple layers including client-side, application-level, and database-level to ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before processing. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to provide additional protection layers against sql injection attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input validation practices as recommended by security frameworks such as the owasp top ten project and nist cybersecurity framework.