CVE-2013-3961 in Simple PHP Agenda
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in edit_event.php in Simple PHP Agenda before 2.2.9 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the eventid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3961 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Simple PHP Agenda web application version 2.2.8 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the edit_event.php script which processes user input without proper sanitization or validation, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database server. The vulnerability specifically targets the eventid parameter, which is used to identify and modify existing calendar events within the application's database management system.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as weaknesses that occur when an application fails to properly escape or validate user input before incorporating it into SQL queries. The vulnerability operates under the principle that unvalidated input from authenticated users can be manipulated to alter the intended execution flow of database commands. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can construct malicious SQL payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, potentially leading to complete database compromise. The authenticated nature of the attack means that an attacker must first obtain valid user credentials, but once inside the system, they can escalate their privileges and execute commands that would normally be restricted to administrators.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3961 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass full system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to calendar data, user credentials, and potentially sensitive organizational information stored within the application's database. This vulnerability can be leveraged to modify existing events, create new entries, delete calendar data, or even escalate privileges to gain administrative control over the application. The implications are particularly severe for organizations that rely on calendar and scheduling systems for business operations, as attackers could manipulate critical scheduling information or gain access to sensitive meeting data. Additionally, this vulnerability can serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure, as database credentials are often reused across different systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3961 should focus on immediate patching of the Simple PHP Agenda application to version 2.2.9 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to ensure that user-supplied data cannot be interpreted as SQL commands. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting database access permissions for the web application, ensuring that even if an attack is successful, the attacker's capabilities are restricted. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter out malicious SQL injection attempts and establish comprehensive logging and alerting mechanisms to detect unauthorized database activities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving SQL injection and privilege escalation, with potential lateral movement opportunities through database access, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security operations.