CVE-2010-4500 in FreeTicket
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in contact.php in MRCGIGUY (MCG) FreeTicket 1.0.0, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) name, (2) email, (3) subject, and (4) message parameters in a sendmess action. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2015
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4500 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the MRCGIGUY (MCG) FreeTicket 1.0.0 web application. This vulnerability specifically targets the contact.php script which handles user messaging functionality, making it a significant threat to the application's database security. The flaw exists under specific conditions where the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, which removes the automatic escaping of special characters in GET, POST, and COOKIE data. This configuration oversight creates an exploitable entry point for malicious actors seeking to manipulate the underlying database through crafted input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the contact.php script. Attackers can exploit four distinct parameters namely name, email, subject, and message within the sendmess action to inject malicious SQL commands. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, these parameters are directly incorporated into SQL queries without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to construct malicious SQL payloads that can bypass authentication, extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even execute system commands depending on the database backend. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the fundamental weakness of inadequate parameter validation, which is classified under CWE-89 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, encompassing complete database compromise and potential system infiltration. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to perform unauthorized database operations including but not limited to data extraction, data modification, and privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability's reach is amplified by its accessibility through standard web interfaces, requiring no special privileges or local system access. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this represents a technique categorized under T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol and T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, demonstrating how attackers can utilize web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to backend systems. The exposure of sensitive user information, including personal details and potentially authentication credentials, creates significant risk for both the application owner and end users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4500 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase, specifically targeting the contact.php script and similar vulnerable components. Organizations should ensure that magic_quotes_gpc is properly configured or implement comprehensive input sanitization mechanisms as a defense-in-depth approach. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack, while maintaining updated security patches and monitoring for similar patterns in other vulnerable components.