CVE-2010-3458 in Symphony
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in lib/toolkit/events/event.section.php in Symphony CMS 2.0.7 and 2.1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the send-email[recipient] parameter to about/. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2025
The CVE-2010-3458 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Symphony CMS version 2.0.7 and 2.1.1, specifically targeting the lib/toolkit/events/event.section.php component. This vulnerability exists in the handling of user input within the send-email recipient parameter, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. The flaw is particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to manipulate the application's database interactions without requiring authentication or privileged access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the event handling mechanism of Symphony CMS. When the application processes the send-email[recipient] parameter through the about/ endpoint, it fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query constructs. This creates a classic SQL injection vector where attacker-controlled input can alter the intended query structure and execute malicious database commands. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. This weakness allows attackers to bypass authentication, extract sensitive data, modify database content, or potentially escalate privileges within the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with comprehensive database access capabilities. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform unauthorized data manipulation, including but not limited to data deletion, modification of user accounts, extraction of confidential information such as user credentials, and potential system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability exists in a core event handling component that processes email notifications, making it accessible through normal application usage patterns. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005, which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1190, which addresses exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3458 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Symphony CMS versions to the latest available releases that contain proper input validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries or prepared statements throughout the application codebase to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. Network-based protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense, though these should not replace proper code-level fixes. Input validation should be implemented at multiple levels including client-side, server-side, and database-level to ensure comprehensive protection against SQL injection attacks. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application infrastructure.