CVE-2010-4185 in Energine
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in Energine, possibly 2.3.8 and earlier, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the NRGNSID cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2025
The CVE-2010-4185 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the energine content management system affecting versions 2.3.8 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php script and exploits a weakness in how the application processes the NRGNSID cookie parameter. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious sql commands through this cookie, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the underlying database system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate the application's sql queries. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category of CWE-89 sql injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability due to its potential for data breach and system compromise. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can manipulate cookies in the web application's communication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application receives the NRGNSID cookie value and directly incorporates it into sql query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. This allows an attacker to append malicious sql syntax to the existing query structure, potentially modifying the intended query behavior. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input handling practices where user-controllable data flows directly into database operations. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, deletion, or even execute administrative commands on the database server. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the attacker could potentially escalate privileges within the database or gain access to sensitive system information. This vulnerability aligns with the attack pattern described in the mitre attack framework under technique T1071.004 application layer protocol and T1566.001 credential access through injection attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4185 is severe and multifaceted, affecting organizations using vulnerable versions of energine cms. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or destruction of critical business information. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, and reputational damage due to data breaches. The vulnerability also poses risks to network infrastructure as attackers could use compromised database credentials to pivot to other systems within the network. System administrators may experience unauthorized access to administrative functions and potential privilege escalation opportunities. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or local network presence. Organizations running affected versions should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority threat requiring immediate remediation. The flaw exemplifies the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in database access controls, as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks and compliance standards including pci dss and iso 27001.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4185 focus primarily on immediate patching of affected energine installations to version 2.3.9 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures for all cookie parameters and user-supplied data. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application codebase to prevent sql injection attacks. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and components. Organizations should also implement proper cookie security measures including secure flags and http-only attributes to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of maintaining current software versions and implementing robust security practices including regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.