CVE-2012-4279 in Free Realty
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Free Realty 3.1-0.6 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) view parameter to agentdisplay.php or (2) edit parameter to admin/admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
The CVE-2012-4279 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting the Free Realty 3.1-0.6 web application, exposing it to remote code execution risks through improperly sanitized input parameters. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL command structures without proper sanitization or parameterization. The flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors within the application's codebase, creating multiple pathways for malicious actors to exploit the system's database layer. The first vector involves the view parameter within the agentdisplay.php script, while the second targets the edit parameter in the admin/admin.php administrative interface, both of which fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into database queries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the underlying database through carefully crafted SQL payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. When an attacker submits malicious input through either the view or edit parameters, the application processes these inputs directly within SQL queries without proper input validation, allowing the injection of additional SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the database user account. This vulnerability directly aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1071.005, which describes application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting web application interfaces. The attack typically involves constructing SQL injection payloads that can extract database schema information, retrieve user credentials, modify or delete records, and potentially escalate privileges to gain full administrative control over the application's backend database.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4279 extends beyond simple data theft, as it creates a persistent security risk that can compromise the entire application infrastructure and potentially lead to broader system infiltration. Organizations running Free Realty 3.1-0.6 are particularly vulnerable since the application's administrative interface remains accessible to attackers who successfully exploit the SQL injection flaws, potentially allowing them to modify property listings, user accounts, and other critical business data. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access to the system or network to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for web-hosted applications. This exposure creates risks for data integrity, confidentiality, and availability, with potential downstream impacts including customer data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and financial losses due to compromised business operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4279 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the application's codebase. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application, specifically ensuring that all user-supplied data passed to database queries undergoes sanitization before processing. Organizations should implement web application firewalls to detect and block common SQL injection patterns, while also conducting comprehensive code reviews to identify and address other potential injection points within the application's architecture. The remediation process should include upgrading to a supported version of Free Realty that addresses these vulnerabilities, as the affected version represents a deprecated release with no ongoing security updates. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation within the database ensures that even if exploitation occurs, the attacker's capabilities remain limited to the permissions granted to the database user account, following the principle of least privilege as outlined in cybersecurity best practices and industry standards.