CVE-2013-5117 in DNNArticle
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the RSS page (DNNArticleRSS.aspx) in the ZLDNN DNNArticle module before 10.1 for DotNetNuke allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the categoryid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The CVE-2013-5117 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in the ZLDNN DNNArticle module for DotNetNuke platforms. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 10.1 and resides within the RSS page component known as DNNArticleRSS.aspx. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate the application's database interactions by exploiting the categoryid parameter, which serves as the primary attack vector for executing malicious SQL commands. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and proper parameter sanitization within the module's RSS feed generation functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the DNNArticleRSS.aspx page. When the categoryid parameter is passed to the RSS generation component, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into SQL query constructs. This omission creates an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary SQL code through carefully crafted categoryid values. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets a publicly accessible RSS feed endpoint, making it easily exploitable by remote threat actors without requiring authentication or privileged access to the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5117 extends beyond simple data theft or manipulation to encompass complete database compromise. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands with the privileges of the database user account under which the DotNetNuke application operates. This can result in unauthorized data access, data modification, data deletion, and potentially the complete compromise of database contents. The vulnerability also enables attackers to perform reconnaissance activities such as enumerating database schemas, extracting user credentials, and accessing sensitive information stored within the application's database. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control through database manipulation and credential access through database exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-5117 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch for the ZLDNN DNNArticle module version 10.1 or later. Organizations should also implement input validation measures at the application level, including parameterized queries, input sanitization, and proper escape sequence handling for all user-supplied parameters. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though these should not replace proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual database access patterns and query execution attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other application components and ensure comprehensive protection against SQL injection threats. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing secure coding practices throughout the application development lifecycle.