CVE-2009-4680 in phpDirectorySource
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in search.php in phpDirectorySource 1.x allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the st parameter.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4680 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the phpDirectorySource 1.x web application, specifically affecting the search.php script. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote code execution attacks through improper input validation mechanisms. The flaw resides in how the application processes the st parameter, which is used for search functionality within the directory service. When an attacker submits malicious input through this parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the data before incorporating it into SQL query constructs. This oversight creates an exploitable condition where malicious SQL commands can be injected and subsequently executed within the database context, potentially allowing attackers to access, modify, or delete sensitive data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. This classification indicates that the flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the application's database interaction layer. The vulnerability operates under the principle that user-supplied input is directly concatenated into SQL statements without proper parameterization or escaping mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious payloads that manipulate the intended SQL query structure, potentially bypassing authentication mechanisms, extracting confidential information, or even gaining administrative control over the database system. The remote aspect of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require local system access or physical proximity to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4680 extends beyond simple data theft, encompassing complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to user credentials, personal information, business data, and potentially allow attackers to establish persistent backdoors within the affected system. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire directory service, as the database layer becomes compromised. Organizations utilizing phpDirectorySource 1.x may face regulatory compliance violations, data breach notifications, and significant reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited. The impact is particularly severe given that directory services often contain sensitive organizational information and serve as critical infrastructure components for user authentication and access control.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security enhancements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application's database interaction points. Developers should adopt prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL command structure from user data, preventing malicious input from altering the intended query execution. Additionally, input sanitization mechanisms should be implemented to filter or escape special characters that could be used in SQL injection attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, though this represents a defensive measure rather than a complete fix. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping software components updated, as phpDirectorySource 1.x versions containing this flaw should be upgraded to patched releases or replaced with more secure alternatives. Implementing proper access controls and database privilege management can limit the damage if exploitation occurs, while maintaining detailed audit logs enables detection of unauthorized access attempts.