CVE-2012-0982 in Agent Zone
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in search.php in Vastal I-Tech Agent Zone (aka The Real Estate Script) allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the price_from parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0982 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Vastal I-Tech Agent Zone web application, commonly known as The Real Estate Script. This vulnerability specifically affects the search.php script and exposes the application to remote code execution attacks through improper input validation. The flaw resides in how the application processes the price_from parameter, which is utilized in database queries to filter real estate listings based on price ranges. When attackers submit malicious input through this parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the data before incorporating it into SQL commands, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged for unauthorized database access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a common weakness in web applications where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization. This particular flaw operates under the principle of input validation failure, where the application assumes all user-provided data is benign and trustworthy. The price_from parameter serves as the attack vector, allowing malicious actors to inject SQL payload commands that can manipulate the database structure, extract sensitive information, modify records, or even execute administrative operations. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system and can exploit it through network-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous for web applications handling sensitive real estate data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can result in complete database compromise and potential system infiltration. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could access confidential real estate listings, customer information, pricing data, and potentially administrative credentials stored within the database. The implications are severe for real estate platforms that rely on such systems, as they may face regulatory violations, financial losses, and reputational damage from data breaches. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges within the database environment, potentially leading to full system compromise. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in the context of the ATT&CK framework, where it would map to techniques involving SQL injection and privilege escalation, demonstrating how initial access through web application exploitation can lead to deeper system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0982 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries. The most effective defense involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL code from user input, ensuring that malicious payloads cannot be executed as part of database operations. Additionally, comprehensive input sanitization should be implemented to validate and filter all user-provided data before processing, with strict type checking and length limitations applied to the price_from parameter. Organizations should also implement proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users, as this can aid attackers in developing more sophisticated exploitation techniques. Regular security auditing and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, while access controls should be strengthened to limit database privileges to the minimum required for application functionality. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for preventing injection flaws in web applications.