CVE-2009-4084 in e107
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the search feature in e107 0.7.16 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2019
The CVE-2009-4084 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw discovered in the e107 content management system version 0.7.16 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the search functionality of the platform, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the search feature, allowing malicious users to inject sql payloads that bypass normal security controls and directly interact with the database layer.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows standard sql injection patterns where user input from the search parameter is directly concatenated into sql query strings without proper escaping or parameterization. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious search queries containing sql metacharacters and commands that get executed by the database engine. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest multiple potential attack surfaces within the search implementation that could be leveraged, including but not limited to parameter manipulation, encoding bypass techniques, or time-based injection methods that could be used to extract database information or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to systems running affected e107 versions as it enables full database compromise. Attackers could potentially extract all user credentials, personal information, content, and system configuration data. The remote execution capability means attackers do not require physical access or local system privileges to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for web applications. This type of vulnerability directly violates multiple security principles including input validation, least privilege, and defense in depth, as the application fails to properly sanitize user inputs before processing them in database operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws in software applications, and maps to several ATT&CK tactics including initial access through web application attacks, privilege escalation via database access, and defense evasion by potentially using the compromised system to hide further malicious activities. Organizations running affected systems face immediate risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations depending on the type of data stored in the compromised databases. The impact extends beyond immediate data theft to include potential system-wide compromise and loss of system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4084 should prioritize immediate patching of the e107 platform to versions 0.7.17 or later where the sql injection vulnerability has been addressed. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, parameterized queries, and prepared statements in the search functionality would prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for sql injection patterns. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and database permissions to limit the impact of potential successful exploitation attempts.