CVE-2012-2105 in Timesheet Next Gen
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in login.php in Timesheet Next Gen 1.5.2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) username or (2) password parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2105 represents a critical security flaw in Timesheet Next Gen version 1.5.2 that exposes the application to remote SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the login.php script which serves as the primary authentication interface for the timesheet application. The flaw arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's database interaction logic, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the authentication process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or parameterize user inputs when constructing SQL queries for authentication. Attackers can manipulate the username and password parameters in the login.php script to inject malicious SQL payloads that bypass normal authentication mechanisms. This occurs because the application directly incorporates user-supplied input into SQL query construction without proper sanitization, following the CWE-89 pattern of improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The vulnerability exists at the application layer where user input transitions into database operations, creating a direct path for attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass, as successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands with the privileges of the database user account. This could result in unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete database compromise. Attackers could potentially extract sensitive information including user credentials, timesheet data, and other confidential business information stored in the database. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system or local network presence to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when attackers use the vulnerability to establish persistent access or exfiltrate data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application's database interaction code, specifically in the login.php script and all other user input handling components. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, while also implementing proper database access controls to limit the privileges of application database users. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this represents a common class of flaws that can affect numerous applications. The remediation process should also include implementing proper error handling to prevent information disclosure that could aid attackers in crafting successful payloads, following the principle of least privilege for database connections, and establishing comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect exploitation attempts.