CVE-2020-25475 in News Script PHP Pro
Summary
by MITRE • 11/25/2020
SimplePHPscripts News Script PHP Pro 2.3 is affected by a SQL Injection via the id parameter in an editNews action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-25475 affects SimplePHPscripts News Script PHP Pro version 2.3, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the application to unauthorized data access and manipulation. This issue manifests through a SQL injection attack vector that specifically targets the id parameter within the editNews action functionality. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the application's database interaction mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through the vulnerable parameter. Such weaknesses in web application security architecture create significant risks for organizations relying on this news management system for content distribution and administrative operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's failure to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. When a user submits a request to edit news content through the editNews action, the application processes the id parameter directly without sufficient validation or sanitization measures. This design flaw enables attackers to craft malicious input that manipulates the underlying database queries, potentially allowing them to extract sensitive information, modify existing records, or even delete critical data from the news script's database. The vulnerability operates at the database layer where user input directly influences query execution, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses standard application-level security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise potential and business disruption. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to the news script's database containing sensitive information such as user credentials, administrative access details, and published content. The ability to manipulate news content through SQL injection creates opportunities for malicious content injection, which could damage organizational reputation and trust. Additionally, the vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges within the application, potentially leading to full system compromise. Organizations using this news script may face regulatory compliance issues and legal consequences due to data exposure and unauthorized access incidents.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized query execution throughout the application's codebase. The recommended approach involves replacing direct parameter concatenation with prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL command structure from user input data. Input sanitization measures including whitelisting of acceptable characters and length restrictions should be implemented to prevent malicious input from reaching database layers. Regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar patterns across the application. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious database access patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and corresponds to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1071.3 - Application Layer Protocol: Database Protocol. The remediation process requires immediate patching of the affected version or upgrading to a secure release that implements proper input sanitization and parameterized query execution practices.