CVE-2009-4870 in PHPCityPortal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in login.php in PHPCityPortal allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) req_username (aka Username) and (2) req_password (aka Password) parameters. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4870 represents a critical security flaw in the PHPCityPortal web application's authentication mechanism. This issue affects the login.php script where multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities exist, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability specifically targets the req_username and req_password parameters, which are essential components of the user authentication process. These parameters are processed without proper input sanitization or parameterization, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute within the database context. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data during the authentication flow, making it particularly dangerous as it directly impacts the core security functionality of the application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the Username and Password input fields during the login process. When attackers submit specially crafted payloads through these parameters, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize the input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL syntax that can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even execute administrative commands on the database server. The vulnerability maps to CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it targets a publicly accessible web interface. The lack of proper input validation creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate the database query execution flow, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass, as it can result in unauthorized access to sensitive user information, including usernames, passwords, and potentially personal data stored within the application's database. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, modify user accounts, or extract confidential information from the database. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly concerning for web applications that handle sensitive data. This vulnerability also demonstrates poor security practices in input handling and database interaction, which can lead to cascading effects if the application shares databases or systems with other components. The exposure of this flaw in a portal application suggests potential risks to public-facing services that may be used for community information sharing or municipal services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4870 must focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. The primary solution involves updating the login.php script to use prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions, ensuring that user input is properly escaped or sanitized before being incorporated into SQL commands. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation that filters or rejects suspicious characters and patterns commonly associated with SQL injection attempts. Additionally, the application should be updated to the latest version of PHPCityPortal where these vulnerabilities have been addressed through proper code review and security testing. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they should not be relied upon as the sole mitigation. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in authentication systems. The remediation process should also include implementing proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users, as this can aid attackers in crafting more effective attacks.