skip to navigation. Skip to the content.
> Advisories > rt-sa-2006-004 vertical divider

Authentication bypass in phpBannerExchange

RedTeam identified two SQL injections in phpBannerExchange. It is possible to bypass user authentication with them.


Details
=======

Product: phpBannerExchange
Affected Versions: All versions up to phpBannerExchange 2.0 RC5
Fixed Versions: 2.0 RC6
Vulnerability Type: SQL injections
Security-Risk: high
Vendor-URL: http://www.eschew.net/scripts/phpbe/2.0/
Vendor-Status: informed, fixed version released
Advisory-URL: http://www.redteam-pentesting.de/advisories/rt-sa-2006-004
Advisory-Status: public
CVE: CVE-2006-3012
CVE-URL: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2006-3012


Introduction
============

From the vendor's homepage:
phpBannerExchange is a PHP/mySQL script that allows virtually anyone with minimal knowledge of PHP, mySQL and web hosting to run their own banner exchange.


More Details
============

In file "client/stats.php" the variables $login and $pass are not sanitized at all.

[...]
42    $login=$_REQUEST['login'];
43    $pass=$_REQUEST['pass'];
[...]

If plaintext password are allowed ($usemd5 != "Y"), following SQL query is used:

[...]
59    $result = mysql_query("select * from banneruser where login='$login' AND pass='$pass'"); [...]

By passing the special character "'" it is possible to alter the SQL query and bypass authentication.

A similar vulnerability exists in "admin/stats.php":

[...]
49    $login=$_SESSION['login'];
50    $pass=$_SESSION['pass'];
[...]
54    $result = mysql_query("select * from banneradmin where  adminuser='$login' 
AND adminpass='$encpw'");
[...]


Proof of Concept
================

User login or administrator login:
Use "'or''='" for both login name and password. You will be authenticated as the first user/admin in the database.


Workaround
==========

Use PHP Magic Quotes.


Fix
===

Upgrade to version 2.0 RC6


Security Risk
=============

The security risk is high because an attacker could gain access to an administrator account and view and alter the database and hereby compromise the whole application.


History
=======

2006-06-09 Discovery of the problem
2006-06-10 Vendor is informed
2006-06-12 Vendor releases fixed version
2006-06-15 Advisory released
2009-05-08 Updated Advisory URL


References
==========

[1] http://www.eschew.net/scripts/phpbe/2.0/


RedTeam
=======

RedTeam Pentesting offers individual penetration tests, short pentests, performed by a team of specialised IT-security experts. Hereby, security weaknesses in company networks are uncovered and can be fixed immediately.

As there are only few experts in this field, RedTeam wants to share its knowledge and enhance the public knowledge with research in security related areas. The results are made available as public security advisories.

More information about RedTeam can be found at
http://www.redteam-pentesting.de.