CVE-2004-1113 in SQLgrey
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in SQLgrey Postfix greylisting service before 1.2.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) sender or (2) recipient e-mail addresses.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2018
The SQL injection vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1113 affects SQLgrey, a Postfix greylisting service designed to reduce spam by temporarily deferring incoming mail from unknown senders. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 1.2.0 and represents a critical security flaw that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of email addresses within the greylisting mechanism, where sender and recipient email addresses are processed without proper input sanitization. The flaw resides in how the application constructs SQL queries when storing or retrieving email address information, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject SQL code that gets executed by the database engine.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient parameter validation and query construction practices within the SQLgrey service. When email addresses are processed for greylisting decisions, the application directly incorporates user-supplied data into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. This pattern aligns with CWE-89, which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into query statements through input data. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specially formatted email addresses containing SQL injection payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable service, execute unauthorized database operations. The impact extends beyond simple data retrieval to potentially allow full database compromise, including privilege escalation, data modification, and unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the greylisting database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on SQLgrey for email security. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to the database containing greylisting information, potentially compromising the integrity of the email filtering system. The vulnerability affects both sender and recipient email address handling, meaning that any email processed through the vulnerable service could be exploited. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can continuously exploit the system without requiring physical access or additional authentication. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that greylisting services typically run as background processes with database access privileges, potentially allowing for privilege escalation attacks. Organizations may experience data breaches, service disruption, and potential compliance violations due to unauthorized database access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1113 focus on immediate version updates and implementation of proper input validation. The most effective solution involves upgrading to SQLgrey version 1.2.0 or later, which includes proper parameterization of database queries and input sanitization. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as database query monitoring, network segmentation, and access controls to limit database privileges for the greylisting service. The implementation of prepared statements and parameterized queries represents the standard defensive approach against SQL injection, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring tools to detect anomalous SQL query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other database-dependent applications within the email infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper database access controls, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security practices that address both application-level and infrastructure-level protections.