CVE-2022-30352 in phpABook
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2022
phpABook 0.9i is vulnerable to SQL Injection due to insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data in the "auth_user" parameter in index.php script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-30352 affects phpABook version 0.9i, a web-based address book application that stores contact information in a database. This particular flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows attackers to manipulate the application's database through maliciously crafted input. The vulnerability specifically resides in the index.php script where the "auth_user" parameter is processed without adequate sanitization measures, creating an exploitable path for SQL injection attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization practices within the phpABook application. When user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper escaping or parameterization, it creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious SQL code. The "auth_user" parameter serves as the entry point where malicious input can be leveraged to manipulate database queries, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information, data modification, or even complete database compromise. This flaw aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities arising from inadequate input validation and improper query construction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges within the application. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to extract confidential user information, modify database records, or gain unauthorized administrative access to the address book system. The consequences become particularly severe when considering that address book applications often contain sensitive personal information including email addresses, phone numbers, and other contact details that may be used for further attacks. Additionally, the vulnerability could facilitate privilege escalation attacks that allow malicious actors to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely, undermining the application's core security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-30352 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection exploitation. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of phpABook if available, or implement proper input sanitization measures that escape special characters and validate user input before processing. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should be mandatory for all database interactions, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten security guidelines. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional protection layers, though these should not replace proper code-level fixes. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, following ATT&CK framework patterns that emphasize credential access and execution techniques that leverage SQL injection vulnerabilities.