CVE-2018-18486 in PHPSHE
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in PHPSHE 1.7. SQL injection exists via the admin.php?mod=user&act=del user_id[] parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18486 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PHPSHE 1.7 content management system that specifically affects the administrative interface. This vulnerability manifests through the admin.php script where the user management functionality is handled, making it particularly dangerous as it targets the system's administrative capabilities. The flaw occurs when the application processes the user_id[] parameter within the del action of the user module, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query execution flow. This issue falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities that occur when untrusted data is incorporated into database queries without proper sanitization or parameterization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites and can be achieved through simple parameter manipulation in the URL string. When an administrator or authenticated user accesses the delete user functionality with a maliciously crafted user_id[] parameter, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before incorporating it into the SQL query structure. This allows attackers to construct malicious SQL statements that can manipulate, retrieve, modify, or delete data from the underlying database without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically impacts the administrative user deletion process, which means that successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized removal of legitimate user accounts or potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges within the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-18486 extends beyond simple data manipulation as it can compromise the entire administrative integrity of the PHPSHE 1.7 system. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, extract sensitive user information including passwords stored in the database, or even gain persistent access to the system through backdoor creation. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk to data confidentiality and integrity, as it could enable unauthorized access to user personal information, administrative credentials, or other sensitive data stored within the database. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications where administrative functions are accessible through predictable URL patterns and where proper input validation mechanisms are absent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-18486 should focus on immediate implementation of proper parameter sanitization and input validation measures. The most effective approach involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions, particularly those involving user-supplied data. Additionally, the application should enforce strict input validation on all parameters received through the URL, ensuring that only expected data types and formats are accepted. The system should also implement proper access controls and authentication checks to limit administrative functions to authorized users only. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, along with regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities within the codebase. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in web application development, as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the ATT&CK framework's database access techniques that target similar vulnerabilities.