Union Hack Attempt and config.php question

ozbutcher · Worker Joined: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 170

We got our first hack attempt this morning, good thing Sentinel stopped them! Smile

Code:

Blocked IP: 12.201.52.*
User ID: Anonymous (1)
Reason: Abuse-Union
--------------------
User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.9) Gecko/20061206 Firefox/1.5.0.9
Query String: ................../modules.php?name=Search&type=comments&query=not123exists&instory=/**/UNION/**/SELECT/**/0,0,pwd,0,aid/**/FROM/**/nuke_authors
Get String: ......................./modules.php?name=Search&type=comments&query=not123exists&instory=/**/UNION/**/SELECT/**/0,0,pwd,0,aid/**/FROM/**/nuke_authors
Post String: ................../modules.php

Now that it happened I am more wary about site security.

Should the config.php be in a folder where it cannot be called upon? Standard nuke installation puts it in the site root directory but I remember somewhere that it can be moved into another directory and somehow linked. Is this a threat since it contains database passwords etc?

hitwalker · Sells PC To Pay For Divorce Joined: Posts: 5661

well long ago we could actually place our config outside the root,but with all security and patched up nuke that isnt needed anymore.
but it cant harm if you do so.. Wink

gregexp · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:35 am

If your site is in the root Directory, you can put the nuke config.php above the root, Just move it, then create a config.php in the root and put this in for the contents:
<?php
if (stristr($_SERVER['SCRIPT_NAME'], "config.php")) {
Header("Location: index.php");
die();
}
if (defined('FORUM_ADMIN')) {
@require_once("../../../../config.php");
} elseif (defined('INSIDE_MOD')) {
@require_once("../../config.php");
} else {
@require_once("../config.php");
}
?>

That will allow the redirect to the NEW place possible, but you need to make sure that a config.php is placed in the root of the nuke site containing the above.

But as stated before, its not necessary for security, Although, it is a good idea if you have addons that cannot be secured by nuke, for example, other installations, A lot of Gallerys are not properly secured. Modules that are not secured.

The security patches for nuke, will stop almost all attacks on the nuke site, but other things can break that security for their environments. So then you must make sure its secure. Ultimatley, its your site that will face the damage, noone elses. Hop this helps you out.

ozbutcher · Worker Joined: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 170

thanks I'll give that a go.

Is there a document somewhere that explains what attacks known and how they affect the system. I would like to find out what the union attack is all about.

cheers.

montego · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:03 pm

I'll say it again, though, if you are worried about a "hole" in another script that will allow an attacker to read a file from the file system, depending on what function is being used in that case, placing your config.php outside the web root isn't going to do you any good. Most of us are under the conclusion now that it is a complete waste of time, just as renaming your admin.php script is.

JMO.

Regarding the UNION attack and others, there are good books on PHP Security (this issue is NOT just limited to PHP - these principles are almost unniversal).

evaders99 · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:18 am

This particular attack is designed to read out the data from your nuke_authors table
With it, they can craft a cookie to enter your admin page and wreck havoc.

Gremmie · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:28 am

Google for SQL injection attacks. The UNION attack is a type of SQL injection where they try to append an additional SELECT onto a query to retrieve rows (often from a different table) that the original query wasn't designed to retrieve.

Also look up the MySQL SELECT syntax and you'll read about the optional UNION SELECT clause.

montego · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:51 pm

ozbutcher, this might help explain a little:

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ozbutcher · Worker Joined: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 170

wow thats scary if they managed to pull it off!! I've had two of these attempts now! thanks for the info.