CVE-2012-1911 in PHP Address Book
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in PHP Address Book 6.2.12 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) to_group parameter to group.php or (2) id parameter to vcard.php. NOTE: the edit.php vector is already covered by CVE-2008-2565.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1911 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting PHP Address Book versions 6.2.12 and earlier. This vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that exploit improper input validation mechanisms within the application's web interface. The primary attack paths involve the to_group parameter in group.php and the id parameter in vcard.php, both of which fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. This weakness allows remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the web application's database user, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user input is directly concatenated into SQL query strings without proper sanitization or parameterization. Attackers can manipulate the to_group parameter in group.php to inject malicious SQL code that alters the intended database operations, while the id parameter in vcard.php provides similar opportunities for command injection. These vulnerabilities fall under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without adequate validation or escaping. The attack surfaces are particularly dangerous because they allow for arbitrary command execution against the underlying database, potentially enabling attackers to extract sensitive information, modify records, or even escalate privileges within the database system.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1911 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to personal contact information, user credentials, and potentially sensitive organizational data stored within the address book database. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1190 which addresses exploit public-facing application. The lack of input validation in these specific PHP scripts creates a persistent attack surface that can be leveraged for extended compromise attempts.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper output encoding to prevent SQL injection attacks. The most effective remediation involves updating to PHP Address Book version 6.2.13 or later, which contains patches addressing these specific vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, database activity monitoring, and regular security assessments can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar patterns in other application components and ensure that all user-supplied data undergoes proper sanitization before database interaction. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation practices and adherence to secure coding standards as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines.