CVE-2015-1471 in Pragyan
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in userprofile.lib.php in Pragyan CMS 3.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the user parameter to the default URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1471 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Pragyan Content Management System version 3.0. This security weakness resides in the userprofile.lib.php component and specifically affects the handling of user input through the user parameter in the default URI. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-89 which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database. This particular flaw enables remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and execute unauthorized database operations without requiring legitimate credentials or access privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the userprofile.lib.php file. When the application processes the user parameter through the default URI, it fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as SQL syntax by the underlying database engine. This allows attackers to craft malicious input strings that manipulate the intended SQL query structure, potentially leading to data extraction, modification, or deletion operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates over remote network connections without requiring any prior authentication or session information, making it accessible to any internet-connected attacker.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with extensive control over the affected system's database infrastructure. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, allowing unauthorized users to access sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configuration details. The vulnerability also enables attackers to potentially escalate privileges within the CMS, modify content, create new administrative accounts, or even execute arbitrary code on the server if the database engine permits such operations. This type of attack directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise, especially when the database credentials are not properly secured or when the database engine has elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1471 should focus on immediate patching of the Pragyan CMS to version 3.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization techniques using parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks. The principle of defense in depth suggests implementing additional network-level protections including firewall rules, intrusion detection systems, and web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious SQL injection attempts. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Proxy Process, where attackers may use SQL injection as a means to establish persistent access, and T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, when attackers attempt to exfiltrate data through database queries. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly looking for unusual database query patterns or unauthorized access attempts.