CVE-2011-5022 in Pligg
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in search.php in Pligg CMS 1.1.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the status parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2025
The CVE-2011-5022 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Pligg Content Management System version 1.1.2, specifically affecting the search.php script. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The affected status parameter serves as the primary attack vector, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute within the database context of the application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits specially crafted input through the status parameter in the search.php endpoint. Without proper sanitization, the application directly concatenates user input into SQL query strings, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the intended query execution flow. This flaw aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as weaknesses in software that allows attackers to execute unauthorized SQL commands against the database. The vulnerability specifically demonstrates the dangerous practice of dynamic query construction using unsanitized user input, a pattern that violates fundamental secure coding principles and database security best practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potentially full database access and control. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and application configuration details. Additionally, attackers might modify or delete database records, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized content manipulation. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the Pligg CMS installation, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems handling sensitive user information or critical business data. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1190, which addresses exploit public-facing applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-5022 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of Pligg CMS, as version 1.1.2 is no longer supported and lacks security updates. The recommended approach involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries to separate SQL command structure from user data, ensuring that user input is properly escaped or validated before database processing. Additionally, input sanitization routines should be deployed to filter out potentially malicious characters and sequences. Network-based protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security weaknesses in the codebase that may require comprehensive remediation efforts.