CVE-2015-1364 in ArticleFR
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the getProfile function in system/profile.functions.php in Free Reprintables ArticleFR 3.0.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username parameter to register/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2025
The CVE-2015-1364 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Free Reprintables ArticleFR 3.0.5 web application framework. This vulnerability specifically targets the getProfile function located in system/profile.functions.php, which serves as a core component for user profile retrieval and management. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the username parameter in the register/ endpoint, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands directly into the database query execution flow. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category of CWE-89 sql injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability in the OWASP top ten security risks. The attack vector leverages remote execution capabilities, meaning that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network without requiring local system access or authentication credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a specially crafted username parameter containing malicious sql payload to the register/ endpoint. The application's insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms fail to properly escape or filter special sql characters and keywords, allowing the injected commands to be executed within the database context. This creates a scenario where attackers can perform unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion operations, potentially leading to complete database compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the database interaction layer, where successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to sensitive user information, including credentials, personal data, and potentially system configuration details.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1364 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within affected networks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, extract confidential information from user profiles, modify existing user accounts, or even inject malicious code into the application environment. The vulnerability's presence in a registration endpoint suggests that it could be exploited during user account creation or profile management processes, potentially allowing attackers to create malicious user accounts with elevated privileges. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1078 valid accounts for persistence and T1046 network service scanning for reconnaissance. The impact on system integrity and availability can be severe, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations that may result in significant financial and reputational damage to affected organizations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1364 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped or sanitized before database interaction. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts, while also implementing proper access controls and database permissions to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, with particular attention to input handling and database interaction patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include database query parameterization, input validation, and regular security updates to protect against known vulnerabilities in web applications.