CVE-2015-6943 in Serendipity
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the serendipity_checkCommentToken function in include/functions_comments.inc.php in Serendipity before 2.0.2, when "Use Tokens for Comment Moderation" enabled, allows remote administrators to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the serendipity[id] parameter to serendipity_admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2022
The CVE-2015-6943 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw in the Serendipity blogging platform that specifically targets the serendipity_checkCommentToken function within the include/functions_comments.inc.php file. This vulnerability emerges when the "Use Tokens for Comment Moderation" feature is enabled, creating a dangerous attack vector that allows remote administrators to execute arbitrary SQL commands. The flaw occurs through the manipulation of the serendipity[id] parameter in the serendipity_admin.php script, demonstrating a classic path to privilege escalation and data compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets administrative functions, potentially allowing attackers to gain full control over the blogging platform's database and content management capabilities. This issue affects all versions of Serendipity prior to 2.0.2, making it a widespread concern for organizations running older installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the comment token checking mechanism. When the serendipity_checkCommentToken function processes the serendipity[id] parameter, it fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed within the database context, potentially leading to data extraction, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-89 SQL Injection weakness, which is categorized under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a fundamental flaw in data validation and query construction. The attack vector specifically exploits the trust relationship between the administrative interface and the underlying database, where legitimate administrative functions become attack surfaces for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to encompass complete system takeover capabilities for authenticated attackers. Remote administrators who can access the comment moderation interface can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary database commands, potentially gaining access to user credentials, personal information, and blog content. The implications include unauthorized content modification, data exfiltration, and the potential for establishing persistent backdoors within the blogging platform. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it allows attackers to leverage administrative privileges to execute malicious database operations, and T1046 Network Service Scanning, as attackers would need to identify the vulnerable endpoint before exploitation. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk of data breaches and system compromise, particularly in environments where blogging platforms contain sensitive organizational information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6943 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to Serendipity 2.0.2 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the SQL injection vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement input validation measures at the application level, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters undergo proper sanitization before database processing. The use of prepared statements and parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application to prevent SQL injection attacks. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense by monitoring for suspicious SQL injection patterns. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the blogging platform. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping all software components updated, as the flaw existed in multiple versions and could have been prevented through timely patch management. Organizations should also consider implementing least privilege access controls, limiting administrative capabilities to only those users who require such access for their specific duties.