U.S. Geological Survey Website - SQL Injection Vulnerability

Document Title:
===============
U.S. Geological Survey Website - SQL Injection Vulnerability


References (Source):
====================
http://www.vulnerability-lab.com/get_content.php?id=278


Release Date:
=============
2011-09-21


Vulnerability Laboratory ID (VL-ID):
====================================
278


Product & Service Introduction:
===============================
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the 
USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The 
organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The USGS is a 
fact-finding research organization with no regulatory responsibility.

A bureau of the United States Department of the Interior, it is that department s sole scientific agency. The USGS employs 
approximately 8,670 people and is headquartered in Reston, Virginia. The USGS also has major offices in Lakewood, 
Colorado (Denver Federal Center), and Menlo Park, California. The motto of the USGS is  > Science for a changing world.

(Copy of the Vendor Homepage: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Geological_Survey )


Abstract Advisory Information:
==============================
A Vulnerability Laboratory researcher discovered a critical SQL Injection vulnerability on the U.S. Geological Survey website.


Vulnerability Disclosure Timeline:
==================================
2011-09-20:	Vendor Notification
2011-09-20:	Vendor Response/Feedback
2011-09-21:	Vendor Fix/Patch
2011-09-21:	Public or Non-Public Disclosure


Discovery Status:
=================
Published


Affected Product(s):
====================

Exploitation Technique:
=======================
Remote


Severity Level:
===============
Critical


Technical Details & Description:
================================
A critical SQL Injection vulnerability is detected on the U.S. Geological Survey website (USGS).
The vulnerability allows an remote attacker to inject/execute own SQL statements over the affected 
vulnerable parameter on the website application dbms. 

Vulnerable Program(s):
							[+] Volcano Hazards Program

Vulnerable Module(s):
							[+] vona.php

Vulnerable Param(s):
							[+] id


Reference:
							http://[SERVER].[GOV]/[PATH]/[FILE].[PHP]?[PARAM]=-x+[SQL-INJECTION]

Picture(s):
							../1.png


Proof of Concept (PoC):
=======================
The vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers. For demonstration or reproduce ...

Reference:
http://[SERVER].[GOV]/[PATH]/[FILE].[PHP]?[PARAM]=-164+[SQL-INJECTION]

PoC:
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/vona.php?id=-164+union+select+1,2,3,4,version()--


Solution - Fix & Patch:
=======================
2011-09-21:	Vendor Fix/Patch


Security Risk:
==============
The security risk of the sql injection vulnerability is estimated as critical(+).


Credits & Authors:
==================
Vulnerability Research Laboratory - Chokri B.A. (Me!ster)


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=========================
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