CVE-2010-4940 in WAnewsletter
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in index.php in WAnewsletter 2.1.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2025
The CVE-2010-4940 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw discovered in the WAnewsletter 2.1.2 web application, specifically within the index.php script. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors. The vulnerability manifests through the id parameter which is directly incorporated into sql query construction without proper escaping or parameterization, making it susceptible to manipulation by remote attackers who can craft malicious input to alter the intended database query behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a specially crafted id parameter value that contains sql payload commands. The application fails to properly sanitize or escape this input before incorporating it into database queries, allowing attackers to inject malicious sql code that executes with the privileges of the database user account. This flaw falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities, representing one of the most prevalent and dangerous security flaws in web applications. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion operations, potentially leading to complete database compromise and unauthorized system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4940 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with extensive privileges to manipulate the underlying database infrastructure. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to sensitive user information, modification of newsletter subscriber data, potential privilege escalation to database administrator accounts, and in severe cases, complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations using WAnewsletter 2.1.2 who may experience data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the attack technique T1071.004 which describes application layer protocol manipulation, and T1046 which involves network service scanning to identify vulnerable systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of WAnewsletter or implement web application firewalls that can detect and block sql injection attempts. The recommended remediation includes implementing proper input sanitization techniques, utilizing prepared statements with parameterized queries, and establishing proper output encoding to prevent malicious payloads from executing. Additionally, regular security assessments, code reviews, and database access controls should be implemented to reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to sql injection attacks and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP top ten project, specifically addressing the prevention of injection flaws that remain among the most critical web application security risks.