CVE-2010-4861 in webSPELL
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in asearch.php in webSPELL 4.2.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the search parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4861 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the webSPELL 4.2.1 content management system, specifically affecting the asearch.php component. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input through the search parameter, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and sanitization that has been documented in numerous security assessments over the years. The vulnerability affects webSPELL versions up to 4.2.1 and represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture to properly handle user-supplied data within database contexts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's direct incorporation of user-provided search parameters into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. When a user submits a search query through the asearch.php script, the input is processed and directly embedded into database queries without proper escaping or validation mechanisms. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper filtering or parameterization. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the search functionality to inject malicious SQL code that can be executed within the database context, potentially leading to complete database compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing webSPELL 4.2.1, as remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise, data manipulation, and unauthorized access to sensitive user information. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to extract database schemas, access user credentials, modify content, or even escalate privileges within the application. The remote nature of the attack means that no local system access is required, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet. This type of vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation, where attackers exploit weaknesses in web application logic to achieve their objectives.
The exploitation of CVE-2010-4861 requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated using various penetration testing tools, making it a preferred target for both skilled and unskilled attackers. Security professionals should recognize that this vulnerability represents a common pattern in legacy web applications where security considerations were not adequately addressed during development phases. The lack of proper input validation demonstrates a failure in secure coding practices that should be addressed through comprehensive security training and implementation of input sanitization techniques. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent such vulnerabilities, which would have prevented the exploitation of this flaw. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and timely patch management to address known issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.