CVE-2017-17615 in Facebook Clone Script
Summary
by MITRE
Facebook Clone Script 1.0 has SQL Injection via the friend-profile.php id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17615 affects Facebook Clone Script version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the application to unauthorized data access and potential system compromise. This script, designed to replicate social media functionality, contains a dangerous SQL injection vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the friend-profile.php page where the id parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into SQL queries, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious SQL code.
The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of user input within the web application's backend processing logic. When the friend-profile.php script receives an id parameter from user input, it directly incorporates this value into database queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This design flaw allows attackers to construct malicious SQL statements that can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even execute administrative commands on the database server. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a classic example of insecure data handling in web applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it targets a publicly accessible web interface that can be exploited from external networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, potentially enabling complete system compromise and unauthorized access to user accounts. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access personal information, private messages, user credentials, and other sensitive data stored within the application's database. The consequences include potential identity theft, unauthorized account manipulation, and data breach notifications that can result in significant financial and reputational damage to the organization operating the vulnerable script. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous as it can be targeted by automated scanning tools and less sophisticated attackers. This creates a substantial risk for organizations using outdated or unpatched social media cloning applications, as the vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to thousands of user accounts and their associated personal information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-17615 should prioritize immediate patching of the vulnerable application to the latest version that addresses the SQL injection flaw. Organizations must implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. The recommended approach involves using prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL code from user input, ensuring that malicious payloads cannot be executed within database operations. Additionally, implementing proper access controls, regular security audits, and input sanitization measures will help prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious activity targeting the vulnerable application. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and following secure coding practices to prevent SQL injection attacks that can compromise entire database systems and user data repositories.