CVE-2011-2944 in The Uploader
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in login.php in MegaLab The Uploader before 2.0.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2944 represents a critical SQL injection flaw in the MegaLab The Uploader application prior to version 2.0.5. This security weakness resides within the login.php script where user input validation is insufficient, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through the username parameter. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The affected application fails to implement adequate input filtering mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code that can be executed within the database context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database server. This privilege escalation allows adversaries to potentially extract sensitive information, modify database records, create new user accounts with administrative privileges, or even delete entire database tables. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication to exploit, making it an ideal target for automated scanning tools that can systematically identify vulnerable instances across the internet. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture where input validation occurs at the application layer rather than being properly handled through parameterized queries or stored procedures.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in remote services, and T1071.005 which covers application layer protocol manipulation. The attack scenario typically involves an attacker sending a specially crafted username parameter containing SQL injection payloads such as single quotes, semicolons, or union select statements. When the application processes this input without proper sanitization, the malicious SQL code gets executed within the database context, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a lack of proper security testing and code review processes during the development lifecycle, suggesting that the application may contain additional undiscovered vulnerabilities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to MegaLab The Uploader version 2.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary security patches. Additionally, implementing proper input validation using parameterized queries or prepared statements would prevent similar issues in the future. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though these should not replace proper code-level fixes. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate injection vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous database query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.