CVE-2012-2236 in PHP Gift Registry
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in users.php in PHP Gift Registry 1.5.5 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the userid parameter in an edit action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2236 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the PHP Gift Registry version 1.5.5 application. This security weakness specifically affects the users.php script and manifests when processing the userid parameter during an edit action. The vulnerability's classification as a remote authenticated sql injection means that an attacker must first establish valid credentials to exploit the flaw, but once authenticated, they can manipulate the underlying database through crafted sql commands. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly validate or escape user input before incorporating it into database queries. When an authenticated user attempts to edit a registry entry, the userid parameter is directly used in sql construction without adequate input filtering mechanisms. This allows malicious actors to inject sql payload strings that can manipulate the database operations, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The attack vector requires authentication since the vulnerability only affects authenticated users, but the impact can be severe as it allows for privilege escalation and data compromise within the application's database.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2236 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to gain deeper system access and potentially compromise the entire application infrastructure. An attacker with authenticated access can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive user information, modify registry entries, or even escalate privileges within the system. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that handle user registry data, gift lists, or any system where user-generated content is stored in databases. The risk is amplified because the application is designed to be user-friendly, making it likely that multiple users maintain accounts, thereby increasing the potential attack surface. According to the attack technique framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command injection and data manipulation within the application's backend database systems.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability including immediate patching of the PHP Gift Registry application to version 1.5.6 or later where the sql injection flaw has been corrected. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries in all database interactions will prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other parts of the application. The implementation of web application firewalls and regular security assessments can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include logging of database query patterns and user activities to identify anomalous behavior that might indicate sql injection attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in industry standards such as the owasp top ten and iso 27001 security frameworks. Regular security training for developers on sql injection prevention techniques and input sanitization methods is essential for maintaining application security posture and preventing similar issues in future software development cycles.