CVE-2011-1555 in Aphpkb
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in saa.php in Andy s PHP Knowledgebase (Aphpkb) 0.95.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the aid parameter, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-1546. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1555 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Andy s PHP Knowledgebase (Aphpkb) version 0.95.3 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the saa.php script and exploits an insecure handling of user input through the aid parameter, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute unauthorized SQL commands against the underlying database system. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and proper parameter sanitization that has been documented in numerous security frameworks and standards including CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in software design. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate the aid parameter before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. When an attacker supplies malicious input through this parameter, the application directly concatenates the user-supplied data into the SQL statement without appropriate sanitization measures. This allows attackers to manipulate the intended query structure and inject additional SQL commands that can execute with the privileges of the database user account. The vulnerability is distinct from CVE-2011-1546, indicating separate code paths or functions that both present SQL injection risks but through different parameter handling mechanisms. This particular flaw falls under the ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it targets web applications accessible from external networks and leverages the application's database interaction capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1555 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise including unauthorized data modification, deletion, or extraction of sensitive information. Attackers could potentially escalate privileges within the database, access other system resources, or use the compromised database as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations using outdated versions of Aphpkb, which may be running on shared hosting environments or legacy systems where patch management is inadequate. Organizations with database access controls based on application permissions may find their security posture significantly weakened, as this vulnerability bypasses typical application-level access controls by directly interfacing with the database layer. The risk assessment for this vulnerability aligns with CVSS scoring methodologies that consider remote exploitability, lack of authentication requirements, and the potential for data compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1555 require immediate action to address the root cause through proper input validation and parameterized queries. Organizations should implement input sanitization routines that filter or escape special characters commonly used in SQL injection attacks, including single quotes, semicolons, and comment delimiters. The most effective remediation involves adopting prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL command structure from user data, thereby preventing the injection of malicious SQL code. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. System administrators should also ensure that all third-party applications are regularly updated to their latest secure versions, as this vulnerability represents an outdated software component that no longer receives security updates. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to verify that all user input parameters are properly sanitized and that database access controls are appropriately configured to limit the impact of any potential exploitation attempts.