SQL injection vulnerability in app/models/identity.php in NoseRub 0.5.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username field to the login script.
NoseRub 0.5.2 and earlier are vulnerable to a critical SQL injection flaw, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands. This vulnerability, exploitable through the login script's username field, can lead to complete system compromise, including data theft and server takeover.
Step 1: Payload Delivery: The attacker crafts a malicious username containing SQL code. This code is designed to manipulate the database query.
Step 2: Input Submission: The attacker submits the crafted username through the NoseRub login form.
Step 3: Query Construction: The identity.php script receives the username and incorporates it directly into a SQL query, typically to authenticate the user.
Step 4: Query Execution: The database server executes the modified SQL query, including the attacker's injected code.
Step 5: Exploitation: The injected SQL code executes, allowing the attacker to perform actions such as bypassing authentication, retrieving sensitive data, modifying database contents, or even executing operating system commands (depending on database server configuration and privileges).
The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper input validation and sanitization within the app/models/identity.php file. Specifically, the application fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input (the username) before incorporating it into a SQL query. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code into the username field. The application then executes this unsanitized input as part of a database query, leading to the execution of arbitrary SQL commands. The root cause is the direct use of user-controlled data in a database query without any form of escaping or filtering, creating a classic SQL injection vulnerability. This lack of parameterized queries or prepared statements exacerbates the issue.