CVE-2012-5849 in ClipBucket
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in ClipBucket 2.6 Revision 738 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) uid parameter in an add_friend action to ajax.php; id parameter in a (2) share_object, (3) add_to_fav, (4) rating, or (5) flag_object action to ajax.php; cid parameter in an (6) add_new_item, (7) remove_collection_item, (8) get_item, or (9) load_more_items action to ajax.php; (10) ci_id parameter in a get_item action to ajax.php; user parameter to (11) user_contacts.php or (12) view_channel.php; (13) pid parameter to view_page.php; (14) tid parameter to view_topic.php; or (15) v parameter to watch_video.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2024
The CVE-2012-5849 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting ClipBucket version 2.6 Revision 738 and earlier, exposing multiple attack vectors through the application's AJAX handling mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the web application's backend processing, particularly in the ajax.php endpoint and several dedicated PHP files that handle user interactions and content management.
The attack surface encompasses fifteen distinct parameter injection points across various application modules, creating multiple pathways for malicious actors to exploit. The uid parameter in the add_friend action allows attackers to manipulate user relationships through SQL injection, while the id parameter across share_object, add_to_fav, rating, and flag_object actions enables unauthorized data manipulation in user engagement features. The cid parameter in collection management actions provides access to database operations involving content organization, while the ci_id parameter in get_item actions targets specific content retrieval mechanisms. Additional vectors include user parameter in user_contacts.php and view_channel.php for profile-based attacks, pid parameter in view_page.php for page content manipulation, tid parameter in view_topic.php for forum topic exploitation, and v parameter in watch_video.php for video content manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands with the privileges of the database user. This capability enables attackers to perform unauthorized data modification, deletion, or extraction of sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configurations. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by the fact that it affects core application functionality, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, create backdoors, or establish persistent access to the system. Attackers could leverage these injection points to manipulate user accounts, alter content management systems, or gain unauthorized access to administrative functions.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation, parameterized queries, and proper sanitization of all user-supplied data before database interaction. The recommended approach includes adopting prepared statements with parameter binding to prevent SQL injection, implementing input whitelisting for all parameters, and establishing proper output encoding for database results. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, conduct regular security code reviews, and maintain up-to-date application versions with security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those addressing injection flaws and input validation. Regular penetration testing and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in related applications and ensure comprehensive security posture maintenance.