CVE-2011-4026 in NexusPHP
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in thanks.php in NexusPHP 1.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4026 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the NexusPHP 1.5 content management system, specifically affecting the thanks.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the id parameter, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database operations. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code that bypasses normal authentication and authorization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a crafted id parameter value to the thanks.php endpoint. Without proper input filtering or parameterized queries, the application directly incorporates user-supplied data into SQL execution statements. This pattern aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in software applications where untrusted data is concatenated or embedded into SQL commands without adequate escaping or validation. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, or deletion, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure.
Operationally, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive user information, including credentials and personal data, which may then be used for further attacks or sold on dark web marketplaces. The vulnerability also provides opportunities for attackers to modify or corrupt database content, potentially leading to service disruption or data integrity violations. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.005 for application layer protocol usage and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, demonstrating how the flaw can be used as a stepping stone for broader network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4026 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized query usage throughout the NexusPHP application. Organizations should implement prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input is treated as data rather than executable code. Additionally, input sanitization measures including length restrictions, character set validation, and encoding of special characters should be enforced. The application should also implement proper error handling to prevent information leakage that could aid attackers in crafting more sophisticated attacks. Security patches and updates from the vendor should be applied immediately, as this vulnerability has been known since 2011 and likely has multiple remediation options available through updated versions of the software. Network segmentation and database access controls should be reviewed to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, ensuring that database accounts used by the application have minimal required privileges.