CVE-2010-4917 in A-Blog
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in sources/search.php in A-Blog 2.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the words parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4917 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the A-Blog 2.0 content management system, specifically affecting the sources/search.php component. This weakness resides in the application's improper handling of user input within the words parameter, which is utilized for search functionality. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the search interface, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-89 SQL Injection as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration, which systematically catalogs software weaknesses related to security flaws. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication or privileged access, making it exploitable by anyone with access to the web application's search functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user-provided input before incorporating it into SQL database queries. When users submit search terms through the words parameter in sources/search.php, the application directly concatenates this input into SQL statements without adequate validation or parameterization. This primitive approach to input handling creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious SQL fragments that alter the intended query execution flow. The vulnerability is classified as a second-order SQL injection attack according to the ATT&CK framework, where the malicious input is initially stored and then later executed in a different context. The database operations performed by the application are particularly susceptible to manipulation, as the search functionality often employs dynamic query construction that can be exploited through crafted input sequences.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4917 extends far beyond simple data retrieval compromise, as successful exploitation can result in complete database takeover. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and application configuration details stored within the database. The potential for privilege escalation exists, as attackers may be able to manipulate database permissions or execute administrative commands through the injected SQL statements. Additionally, the vulnerability enables data modification and deletion capabilities, potentially leading to data corruption or complete system compromise. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that the search functionality is typically accessible to all users, including anonymous visitors, which increases the likelihood of successful exploitation. Organizations running A-Blog 2.0 systems are particularly at risk as this vulnerability can be exploited to gain persistent access to the database infrastructure, potentially serving as a foothold for further network infiltration attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4917 require immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized query approaches to prevent SQL injection exploitation. The primary remediation involves updating the sources/search.php script to utilize prepared statements or parameterized queries, which separate SQL code from data input and effectively neutralize injection attacks. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization routines that filter or escape special characters commonly used in SQL injection attempts, including single quotes, semicolons, and comment markers. Additionally, the application should enforce strict input length limitations and character set restrictions for search parameters to minimize attack surface. Security hardening measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, establishing database user privilege separation to limit potential damage, and conducting regular security audits of database queries. The remediation process should also include updating to the latest version of A-Blog 2.0, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases through improved input handling mechanisms and enhanced security controls. Organizations should also implement comprehensive monitoring and logging of database activities to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails for security incident response procedures.