CVE-2010-2340 in Arab
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in members.php in Arab Portal 2.2, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the by parameter in the msearch action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2340 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Arab Portal 2.2 content management system. This vulnerability specifically affects the members.php script where user input is improperly sanitized when the magic_quotes_gpc directive is disabled in the php.ini configuration. The flaw manifests when attackers exploit the by parameter within the msearch action, enabling them to inject malicious SQL code directly into the database query execution process. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-severity weakness in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The attack vector operates through remote code execution capabilities that bypass normal input validation mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on user-supplied data for database operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the web application fails to properly escape or validate user input before incorporating it into SQL queries. In the context of Arab Portal 2.2, the by parameter in the msearch action serves as the primary injection point where malicious SQL commands can be passed through the URL parameters. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the application does not automatically escape special characters that could be used to manipulate SQL syntax, leaving the system vulnerable to attacks that can manipulate database queries through crafted input. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the application's data layer, as attackers can potentially extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even gain unauthorized access to administrative functions through the injected SQL commands.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2340 extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass full system compromise potential. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform unauthorized database operations including but not limited to data extraction, modification, or deletion of critical system information. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete database compromise, allowing threat actors to access user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data stored within the application's database. This weakness aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1071.004 technique for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as the attack occurs through standard web application interfaces. The vulnerability also maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, indicating that the attack surface is accessible through public web interfaces. Organizations running affected versions of Arab Portal 2.2 face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2340 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most effective immediate fix involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should ensure that magic_quotes_gpc is enabled in php.ini or implement robust input sanitization routines that properly escape special characters before database queries are executed. Additionally, implementing proper output encoding and using prepared statements with parameterized queries provides defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities. Regular security audits should verify that all user inputs are properly validated and that database connections use least privilege accounts with restricted permissions. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional monitoring and protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect similar SQL injection patterns across their entire application portfolio, as this vulnerability type remains prevalent in legacy web applications.