CVE-2011-1556 in Aphpkb
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in plugins/pdfClasses/pdfgen.php in Andy s PHP Knowledgebase (Aphpkb) 0.95.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the pdfa parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1556 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Andy s PHP Knowledgebase (Aphpkb) version 0.95.4 application. This security weakness resides in the pdfClasses/pdfgen.php file and specifically affects the pdfa parameter handling mechanism. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands into the application's database layer through crafted input values, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure. The flaw demonstrates a classic improper input validation issue where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization measures. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is used in SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database system. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, deletion, or even database schema enumeration. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not require local system access or physical presence to exploit this vulnerability. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which describes the use of application layer protocols for command execution, and T1190, which covers exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications. The affected Aphpkb 0.95.4 version represents a legacy application that likely lacks modern security protections such as prepared statements or input validation frameworks that would typically prevent such injection attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1556 should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendor. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to ensure all user-supplied parameters undergo rigorous filtering before being processed by database systems. The implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements represents the most effective long-term solution to prevent SQL injection vulnerabilities of this nature. Security controls should include web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, as well as database access controls that limit the privileges of database accounts used by the application. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other legacy applications within the organization's infrastructure, as this vulnerability demonstrates the persistent risks associated with outdated software versions that may lack proper security hardening measures.