CVE-2012-6504 in PHP Volunteer Management
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in mods/hours/data/get_hours.php in PHP Volunteer Management 1.0.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6504 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PHP Volunteer Management system version 1.0.2. This security weakness specifically affects the mods/hours/data/get_hours.php script which processes user input through the id parameter. The vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through the vulnerable parameter, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard SQL injection attack patterns where attackers manipulate the id parameter to alter the intended database query execution flow. When the application processes the id parameter without proper sanitization, it directly incorporates user input into SQL statements, enabling attackers to append malicious SQL code that can execute with the privileges of the database user account. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, making it a classic and well-documented vulnerability pattern. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the vulnerable web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete database compromise and potential system infiltration. Attackers could extract sensitive volunteer information, modify or delete records, and potentially escalate privileges to gain unauthorized access to underlying system resources. The implications are particularly severe for volunteer management systems that may contain personal identifiable information, contact details, and sensitive organizational data. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploitation of remote services, and T1071.004, covering application layer protocol exploitation. Organizations using this vulnerable software face significant risk of data breaches and regulatory compliance violations, especially if the system handles protected health information or personally identifiable data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6504 should prioritize immediate patching of the PHP Volunteer Management system to the latest version that addresses this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout their applications to prevent similar issues in the future. The use of web application firewalls and database activity monitoring tools can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all web applications to identify similar input validation flaws and ensure that proper security coding practices are implemented. Additionally, regular security updates and penetration testing should be integrated into the organization's security posture to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities like this one. The remediation process should also include reviewing and strengthening access controls, implementing database query logging, and establishing proper incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.