CVE-2020-14960 in php-fusion
Summary
by MITRE
A SQL injection vulnerability in PHP-Fusion 9.03.50 affects the endpoint administration/comments.php via the ctype parameter,
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2020-14960 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within PHP-Fusion version 9.03.50 that specifically targets the administration/comments.php endpoint. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the ctype parameter, which is utilized in database queries without proper escaping or parameterization mechanisms. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data exfiltration.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization. The attack vector leverages the administrative interface where the ctype parameter is processed in a manner that does not properly separate SQL command structure from user-supplied data. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to implement proper input validation or use of prepared statements when handling the ctype parameter in the comments administration module.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with elevated privileges to manipulate database contents directly. An attacker could extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and administrative configuration details. The vulnerability also enables potential data corruption, unauthorized access to administrative functions, and could serve as a foothold for further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Given that this affects the administration/comments.php endpoint, successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify or delete comments, potentially affecting content integrity and user experience.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of PHP-Fusion to version 9.04.00 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and parameterized query implementation. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforce multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and conduct regular security audits of web applications. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper database query construction as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, emphasizing that authentication alone is insufficient protection against properly crafted SQL injection attacks.