CVE-2004-0374 in InterChange
Summary
by MITRE
Interchange before 5.0.1 allows remote attackers to "expose the content of arbitrary variables" and read or modify sensitive SQL information via an HTTP request ending with the "__SQLUSER__" string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0374 affects Interchange software versions prior to 5.0.1, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to access sensitive database information through carefully crafted HTTP requests. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of SQL user variables and demonstrates a significant weakness in input validation and access control mechanisms within the web application framework. The flaw allows unauthorized users to manipulate the application's behavior by appending the "_SQLUSER_" string to HTTP requests, thereby bypassing normal security controls that should protect database credentials and sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user input parameters within the Interchange application's request processing pipeline. When an HTTP request containing the "_SQLUSER_" suffix is received, the application fails to properly validate or restrict access to internal variable structures that should remain protected from external manipulation. This represents a classic case of improper input validation and insufficient access controls, which can be categorized under CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation and CWE-284 - Improper Access Control. The vulnerability essentially creates an information disclosure channel that allows attackers to extract database user credentials and potentially other sensitive SQL-related information that should remain confidential within the application's internal processing environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to read and modify sensitive SQL information that could lead to complete database compromise. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially access database connection strings, user credentials, and other critical system information that would enable further attacks within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the CIA triad, as it allows unauthorized access to sensitive data and could facilitate privilege escalation attacks. The ability to modify SQL information through this vector also opens possibilities for data manipulation and potential denial of service conditions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application patching to Interchange versions 5.0.1 and later, which contain the necessary security fixes to prevent the exploitation of this input validation flaw. Organizations should implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block requests containing the "_SQLUSER_" string pattern, providing an additional layer of protection. Regular security assessments should include testing for similar input validation vulnerabilities, and developers should follow secure coding practices that emphasize input sanitization and proper access control mechanisms. The remediation process should also involve reviewing all application components that handle user input to ensure similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other parts of the system, aligning with the principles of secure software development lifecycle practices that address the ATT&CK technique T1213 - Data from Information Repositories and T1566 - Phishing. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging of suspicious HTTP requests to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails of database access activities.