EmpireCMS Product Rating Plugin SQL Injection Scanner

EmpireCMS is a widely-used content management system primarily used by web developers and administrators to create and manage content-rich websites. The platform is popular for its robust functionalities and flexibility, making it suitable for various content management needs in sectors like e-commerce, media, and entertainment. While EmpireCMS provides a vast range of plugins to enhance its core capabilities, the Product Rating Plugin is specifically designed to manage and display user ratings for various products. This plugin allows users to rate products, contributing to the interactive and engaging nature of the website. However, due to its popularity and flexibility, it can sometimes be prone to security vulnerabilities if not properly managed. It is essential for administrators to regularly check for and patch any potential security weaknesses to ensure data integrity and user security.

SQL Injection is a significant vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers to interfere with the queries that an application makes to its database. It usually involves injecting malicious SQL statements into an entry field for execution, which might allow attackers to view, manipulate, or delete sensitive data. The vulnerability arises when user inputs are not correctly sanitized, enabling the execution of arbitrary SQL code. In the context of EmpireCMS's Product Rating Plugin, this can lead to unauthorized access to user and product information stored in the database. Such vulnerabilities can be used to steal confidential data, disrupt operations, or escalate privileges within the application. Addressing SQL Injection vulnerabilities is crucial to maintaining the security and integrity of the system.

The SQL Injection vulnerability in the EmpireCMS Product Rating Plugin is typically found in the 'rate.php' endpoint, where user inputs are received and processed. Without proper input validation or parameterized queries, the endpoint can be prone to SQL commands being injected and executed by a remote attacker. Technical exploitation involves manipulating the input parameter, bypassing the standard logic to execute arbitrary SQL commands. This specific scanner checks for the injection by injecting a known pattern and observing the response. The use of common extraction techniques like UNION or JOIN with known hashes helps validate the existence of the vulnerability. Identifying and mitigating such issues early can prevent significant data breaches and maintain the application's security posture.

If exploited, SQL Injection vulnerabilities can lead to significant data exposure, unauthorized data manipulation, and in some cases, complete foothold within the database-driven application. Attackers could potentially retrieve sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and personal user data. In more severe cases, an attacker may be able to alter existing data, delete critical records, or escalate their access globally within the application. This can also extend to defacing websites, affecting user trust, and causing financial and reputational damage to the business. Understanding the possible effects emphasizes the necessity of addressing such vulnerabilities proactively and implementing secure coding practices.