CVE-2010-3922 in Movabletype
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Movable Type 4.x before 4.35 and 5.x before 5.04 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3922 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Movable Type content management systems version 4.x prior to 4.35 and version 5.x prior to 5.04. This weakness resides in the application's improper handling of user-supplied input within database queries, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate backend database operations. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection conditions where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The affected Movable Type versions demonstrate a fundamental flaw in input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately filter or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into database execution contexts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw through unspecified vectors that likely involve web application interfaces where user input is processed and subsequently passed to database queries. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. The SQL injection occurs when user-supplied data is directly concatenated into SQL statements rather than being properly parameterized or escaped, allowing malicious input to alter the intended query structure and execute unauthorized database operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3922 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can result in complete database compromise, unauthorized data modification, privilege escalation, and potential system lateral movement. Attackers may extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and application configuration details from the compromised database. The vulnerability's presence in content management systems like Movable Type creates additional risk as these platforms often store sensitive user information, application settings, and potentially confidential business data. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to persistent backdoor access, data corruption, or complete service disruption, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on affected Movable Type versions for their web publishing needs.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official software updates from Movable Type developers, specifically upgrading to versions 4.35 or 5.04 and later. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing proper input validation and parameterized query techniques throughout the application codebase, aligning with defensive programming practices recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework for application security. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious SQL injection patterns, though these measures should not replace proper code-level fixes. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected applications within their environment that may share similar input handling flaws, as this vulnerability demonstrates common weaknesses in web application security practices that align with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer attacks and T1566 for initial access through web applications.