Explaining ASPSiteWare ASP Gallery 1.0 SQL Injection Exploit

What this paper is

This paper details a SQL injection vulnerability found in ASPSiteWare ASP Gallery version 1.0. The vulnerability allows an attacker to manipulate SQL queries by injecting malicious code into the iType parameter of the type.asp script. This can lead to unauthorized access to or modification of the backend Access database.

Simple technical breakdown

The type.asp script in the ASP Gallery application takes a parameter called iType. This parameter is used to filter images based on their type or category. The vulnerability lies in how the script handles this iType parameter. Instead of properly sanitizing or validating the input, the script directly incorporates it into a SQL query.

An attacker can exploit this by providing specially crafted input for iType. This input will include SQL commands that alter the original query. For example, an attacker could append a condition that always evaluates to true (like ' OR '1'='1') to retrieve all records, or inject commands to extract sensitive information from the database.

Complete code and payload walkthrough

The provided paper does not contain executable code or shellcode. It describes the vulnerability and the affected URL structure.

• Affected URL Structure:
  http://server/Gallery/type.asp?iType=[Code]

  • server: The domain or IP address of the web server hosting the ASP Gallery.
  • Gallery/type.asp: The vulnerable script.
  • iType=[Code]: The parameter that is susceptible to SQL injection. [Code] represents the malicious SQL payload.

• Vulnerability Type: SQL Injection.

  • Practical Purpose: This indicates that the application is vulnerable to injecting SQL commands through the iType parameter.

• Payload Concept (Implied, not explicit code):
  The paper implies that a payload would be a string of SQL code appended to the iType parameter. A common example for SQL injection is to bypass authentication or retrieve all data. For instance, an attacker might try:
  ' OR '1'='1' --
  This would likely be appended to the iType parameter, making the full URL look something like:
  http://server/Gallery/type.asp?iType=' OR '1'='1' --

  • ': Attempts to close the expected string literal in the original SQL query.
  • OR '1'='1': Introduces a condition that is always true, potentially causing the query to return all records instead of just those matching a specific type.
  • --: A SQL comment syntax, used to ignore the rest of the original query that might otherwise cause a syntax error.

Mapping:

• http://server/Gallery/type.asp?iType=[Code] -> Vulnerable URL Pattern
• [Code] -> Injection Point for SQL Payload
• ' OR '1'='1' -- -> Example SQL Injection Payload

Practical details for offensive operations teams

• Required Access Level: Network access to the target web server. No elevated privileges on the server itself are initially required, as this is a web application vulnerability.
• Lab Preconditions:
  • A vulnerable instance of ASPSiteWare ASP Gallery 1.0 installed on a web server.
  • Knowledge of the target URL.
  • An understanding of the typical SQL query structure used by the type.asp script (this might require some reconnaissance or educated guessing).
• Tooling Assumptions:
  • Web browser for manual testing.
  • Web proxy (e.g., Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP) for intercepting and modifying requests.
  • SQL injection scanning tools (e.g., SQLMap) could potentially automate discovery and exploitation, but manual verification is crucial.
• Execution Pitfalls:
  • Incorrect Payload Syntax: The SQL syntax must match the backend database (likely Microsoft Access given the ASP context). Incorrect quoting, comments, or keywords will cause the injection to fail.
  • WAF/IDS Evasion: Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) might flag common SQL injection patterns. Evasion techniques might be necessary.
  • Application Logic: The type.asp script might have additional logic that prevents simple injections. For example, it might expect specific data types or formats for iType.
  • Database Errors: If the injection is successful but malformed, it could lead to database errors, which might be logged or trigger alerts.
  • No Visible Impact: If the injection doesn't immediately result in an obvious change (like an error or altered content), it doesn't mean it failed. Data exfiltration might be silent.
• Tradecraft Considerations:
  • Reconnaissance: Understand the application's structure and how the iType parameter is used. Browse the site to see what valid iType values look like.
  • Blind SQL Injection: If direct error messages are not returned, blind SQL injection techniques might be required to infer data.
  • Timing Attacks: For blind SQL injection, timing attacks can be used to determine if a condition is true or false.
  • Data Exfiltration: Plan how to exfiltrate data if successful. This could involve concatenating data into a single string that is then displayed, or using out-of-band techniques if available.
• Likely Failure Points:
  • Input validation on the server-side that sanitizes or rejects malicious characters.
  • Use of parameterized queries or prepared statements by the developer.
  • Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) blocking the injection attempts.
  • The iType parameter not being directly used in a SQL query, or being used in a way that is not susceptible to injection.

Where this was used and when

• Context: This vulnerability was found in a web-based image gallery application (ASPSiteWare ASP Gallery 1.0).
• Approximate Year: The exploit paper was published on December 4, 2010. Therefore, this vulnerability was likely actively exploited or discovered around this time. It's possible it existed in earlier versions and remained unfixed.

Defensive lessons for modern teams

• Input Validation and Sanitization: Always validate and sanitize all user-supplied input. This includes checking for expected data types, lengths, and characters. For web applications, this is paramount.
• Parameterized Queries/Prepared Statements: Use parameterized queries or prepared statements for all database interactions. This is the most effective defense against SQL injection, as it separates SQL code from user data.
• Least Privilege: Ensure the database user account used by the web application has only the minimum necessary privileges. This limits the damage an attacker can do even if they achieve SQL injection.
• Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): Deploy and properly configure WAFs to detect and block common web attacks, including SQL injection attempts. However, WAFs should be a layer of defense, not the sole solution.
• Regular Patching and Updates: Keep all web applications and their underlying frameworks up to date with the latest security patches.
• Secure Coding Practices: Train developers on secure coding practices, emphasizing the dangers of SQL injection and how to prevent it.
• Error Handling: Configure error handling to avoid revealing sensitive database information to end-users. Generic error messages are preferred.

ASCII visual (if applicable)

This vulnerability is a direct interaction between a user's request and the web application's backend database. An ASCII visual can illustrate this flow.

+-----------------+      +-----------------+      +-----------------+
|  Attacker's     |----->|  Web Server     |----->|  Database       |
|  Browser        |      |  (type.asp)     |      |  (Access)       |
+-----------------+      +-------+---------+      +-----------------+
                           ^       |
                           |       | SQL Query
                           |       | (Potentially Malicious)
                           +-------+
                                 ^
                                 | User Input (iType=[Code])
                                 |
+-----------------+
|  User Request   |
+-----------------+

Explanation:

• The attacker crafts a malicious request containing SQL code in the iType parameter.
• The web server receives this request and, due to the vulnerability, directly incorporates the malicious code into a SQL query sent to the database.
• The database executes the modified query, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or manipulation.

Source references

• Paper ID: 15682
• Paper Title: ASPSiteWare ASP Gallery 1.0 - SQL Injection
• Author: R4dc0re
• Published: 2010-12-04
• Paper URL: https://www.exploit-db.com/papers/15682
• Raw Exploit URL: https://www.exploit-db.com/raw/15682

Original Exploit-DB Content (Verbatim)

# Author: R4dc0re
# Exploit Title: ASPSiteware Gallery SQL injection Vulnerability
# Date: 04-12-2010
# Vendor or Software Link: www.aspsiteware.com
# Category:WebApp
#Demo Link:http://www.aspsiteware.com/Gallery/
#Version:1.0
#Price:50$
#Contact: R4dc0re@yahoo.fr
#Website: www.1337db.com
#Greetings to: R0073r(1337db.com), L0rd CrusAd3r,Sid3^effects and to rest of the 1337db members 

Submit Your Exploit at Submit@1337db.com

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[Product Detail]

ASP Gallery is a web based image gallery application.
Backend by Access database, ASP Gallery can store thousands of images in categories.
Each image is displayed with name and description.
You can customize ASP Gallery for the look and feel of your website.
ASP Gallery is an excellent add-on application for your web site.
It is designed to be a complete ready-to-use image listing.You just add your images.
Start posting your images online and attracting more customers to your site by using this application.
 
[Vulnerability]

SQL Injection:

http://server/Gallery/type.asp?iType=[Code]
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