CVE-2018-8943 in PHPSHE
Summary
by MITRE
There is a SQL injection in the PHPSHE 1.6 userbank parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8943 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PHPSHE 1.6 content management system, specifically affecting the userbank parameter handling functionality. This vulnerability resides in the application's database interaction mechanisms where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into SQL query constructions. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through the userbank parameter, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive database information and system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and parameter handling within the PHPSHE framework's user management components. When the application processes requests containing the userbank parameter, it directly incorporates user-supplied data into SQL queries without adequate escaping or parameterization mechanisms. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is concatenated into SQL commands without proper sanitization. The vulnerability exists at the intersection of weak input filtering and inadequate database access control, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the underlying database structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, encompassing potential complete system compromise and data destruction capabilities. Attackers could leverage this flaw to extract sensitive user information, modify database records, or even escalate privileges within the application environment. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire PHPSHE system, potentially exposing user credentials, personal information, and business-critical data. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1213.002 for data from information repositories, demonstrating the broad attack surface this flaw presents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-8943 require immediate implementation of proper parameterized queries and input validation mechanisms. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of PHPSHE 1.6 or apply the relevant security patches provided by the vendor. The remediation process must include comprehensive input sanitization, implementation of prepared statements, and thorough code review of all database interaction points. Security teams should also implement web application firewalls and monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors that could exploit the same fundamental design weaknesses.