CVE-2018-5977 in Affiliate Webshop Management System
Summary
by MITRE
SQL Injection exists in Affiligator Affiliate Webshop Management System 2.1.0 via a search/?q=&price_type=range&price= request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2025
The CVE-2018-5977 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Affiligator Affiliate Webshop Management System version 2.1.0. This vulnerability specifically manifests through a crafted search request parameter structure that includes the q parameter for search queries, price_type parameter to define pricing types, and price parameter to specify price ranges. The system fails to properly sanitize or validate user input passed through these parameters, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the underlying database layer. This particular attack vector demonstrates a classic sql injection vulnerability where user-supplied data directly influences database query construction without adequate input filtering or parameterization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious request to the search endpoint with specially formatted parameters that manipulate the sql query execution flow. The system processes the price parameter without proper sanitization, allowing sql metacharacters and commands to be interpreted by the database engine. This flaw falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection vulnerabilities as a result of insufficient input validation and improper database query construction. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input transitions from frontend interface to backend database operations, creating a direct pathway for unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential data breaches. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, customer data, product catalogs, and financial records stored within the webshop management system. The vulnerability's exploitation capability allows for privilege escalation within the database context, potentially enabling attackers to gain administrative access to the entire system. According to the mitre attack framework, this vulnerability maps to the initial access and execution phases where attackers establish footholds through application layer exploits before potentially escalating privileges and moving laterally within the network infrastructure. The affected system represents a high-value target for threat actors due to the commercial nature of affiliate webshop management and the sensitive transactional data it processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5977 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized query construction throughout the application codebase. Organizations should implement prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input cannot alter the sql query structure regardless of the input values provided. Input sanitization mechanisms must be deployed at multiple layers including application firewall rules, web application security controls, and database access controls to create defense-in-depth measures. The system administrators should also implement proper output encoding and validation to prevent any potential secondary injection vectors. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application stack, while also ensuring that all third-party components and libraries are updated to their latest secure versions. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide real-time monitoring and blocking capabilities for suspicious sql injection attempts targeting this specific vulnerability pattern.