CVE-2013-0135 in PHP Address Book
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in PHP Address Book 8.2.5 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter to (1) addressbook/register/delete_user.php, (2) addressbook/register/edit_user.php, or (3) addressbook/register/edit_user_save.php; the email parameter to (4) addressbook/register/edit_user_save.php, (5) addressbook/register/reset_password.php, (6) addressbook/register/reset_password_save.php, or (7) addressbook/register/user_add_save.php; the username parameter to (8) addressbook/register/checklogin.php or (9) addressbook/register/reset_password_save.php; the (10) lastname, (11) firstname, (12) phone, (13) permissions, or (14) notes parameter to addressbook/register/edit_user_save.php; the (15) q parameter to addressbook/register/admin_index.php; the (16) site parameter to addressbook/register/linktick.php; the (17) password parameter to addressbook/register/reset_password.php; the (18) password_hint parameter to addressbook/register/reset_password_save.php; the (19) var parameter to addressbook/register/traffic.php; or a (20) BasicLogin cookie to addressbook/register/router.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-0135 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting PHP Address Book version 8.2.5, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through multiple input vectors. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's user registration and management modules, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate database queries and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The flaw manifests across several endpoints including user deletion, editing, and password reset functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it affects core user management operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows standard SQL injection patterns where user-supplied input is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious payloads that manipulate the database structure through the id parameter in delete_user.php, edit_user.php, and edit_user_save.php scripts. The email parameter presents another attack surface in reset_password.php, reset_password_save.php, and user_add_save.php, while the username parameter in checklogin.php and reset_password_save.php creates additional exploitation opportunities. The vulnerability extends to various other parameters including lastname, firstname, phone, permissions, and notes in edit_user_save.php, as well as q parameter in admin_index.php and site parameter in linktick.php.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, or deletion. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges, access confidential user information, or even take complete control of the application's database. The vulnerability affects the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms, particularly through the BasicLogin cookie manipulation in router.php, which could allow attackers to bypass authentication entirely. This creates a cascading security risk where successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, especially if the database contains sensitive user data, administrative credentials, or application configuration details.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation, parameterized queries, and input sanitization across all affected endpoints. The application should employ prepared statements with bound parameters to prevent SQL injection attacks, and all user inputs should be validated against expected formats and ranges. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms would help limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar patterns in other application components, as SQL injection remains one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application vulnerabilities.