CVE-2009-4791 in Family Connections
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Family Connections (aka FCMS) before 1.8.2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) letter parameter to addressbook.php, (2) id parameter to recipes.php, (3) year parameter to register.php, (4) poll_id parameter to home.php, and (5) email parameter to lostpw.php.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2024
The CVE-2009-4791 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Family Connections (FCMS) version 1.8.1 and earlier, exposing multiple pathways for remote SQL injection attacks that could enable attackers to execute arbitrary database commands. This vulnerability affects a widely used open-source web application designed for family communication and organization, making it particularly concerning given its potential for widespread exploitation. The flaw manifests through five distinct parameter injection points across different application modules, each representing a separate attack vector that collectively undermines the application's database security posture. These injection points occur in the addressbook.php, recipes.php, register.php, home.php, and lostpw.php scripts, demonstrating a systemic weakness in input validation and parameter handling throughout the application's codebase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input parameters before their incorporation into SQL query constructions. Attackers can exploit these weaknesses by crafting malicious SQL payloads within the specified parameters, which are then blindly executed against the underlying database system. The letter parameter in addressbook.php, id parameter in recipes.php, year parameter in register.php, poll_id parameter in home.php, and email parameter in lostpw.php all suffer from the same fundamental flaw where user input is directly concatenated into SQL statements without proper escaping or parameterization. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of insecure direct object reference combined with improper input validation. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-77 allows for exploitation through command injection techniques, as demonstrated by the ability to execute arbitrary SQL commands that could potentially provide attackers with complete database access.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4791 extends far beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain complete control over the application's database infrastructure. Remote attackers could potentially extract sensitive user information including passwords, personal details, and family data, while also being capable of modifying or deleting database records. The vulnerability's exposure across multiple application modules increases the attack surface significantly, as each injection point represents a potential entry point for different types of attacks including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and denial of service conditions. Given that Family Connections typically handles personal family information, the potential for privacy violations and identity theft is substantial, particularly when considering that many users may store sensitive personal data within these applications. The attack vector's remote nature means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations or individuals running unpatched versions of the software.
Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to protect against potential exploitation attempts. The most critical immediate action involves upgrading to Family Connections version 1.8.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address these SQL injection vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase would provide defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. Network-based protections including intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls should be configured to monitor for suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the identified parameters. The vulnerability's presence also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on preventing injection flaws and implementing proper input sanitization techniques. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other applications within the organization's infrastructure, as this vulnerability demonstrates how easily SQL injection flaws can persist in legacy web applications.