CVE-2005-3074 in rsyslogd
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in rsyslogd in RSyslog before 1.0.1 and before 1.10.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via crafted syslog messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2018
The CVE-2005-3074 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw in the rsyslogd daemon component of the RSyslog logging system. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 1.0.1 and 1.10.1, creating a significant security risk for systems relying on syslog message processing. The flaw specifically enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through the manipulation of syslog messages, fundamentally compromising the integrity and confidentiality of system logging infrastructure. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of network services and database operations, where the logging daemon processes incoming messages without proper input sanitization, creating an attack surface that can be exploited from remote locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the rsyslogd daemon when handling syslog messages that contain SQL commands. When the system processes these malformed messages, it fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as SQL syntax by underlying database systems. The vulnerability manifests when syslog messages containing crafted SQL payloads are received by the rsyslogd service, which then forwards these unvalidated inputs to database backends. This design flaw directly maps to CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as weaknesses that allow attackers to manipulate database queries through untrusted input. The attack vector leverages the network-facing syslog service, making it accessible to remote adversaries without requiring local system access or elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary database commands with the privileges of the rsyslogd service. This can result in complete database infiltration, data exfiltration, modification of log records to cover malicious activities, or even privilege escalation within the system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where rsyslogd is configured to store logs in database backends, as it creates a direct path for attackers to manipulate or destroy critical log data that is essential for security monitoring and incident response. Additionally, the attack can be executed silently, as the malicious SQL commands are embedded within seemingly normal syslog messages, making detection more challenging for security operations teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3074 must focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of RSyslog, specifically versions 1.0.1 or 1.10.1 and later, which contain proper input validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to syslog services and deploy firewall rules that restrict syslog traffic to trusted sources only. The implementation of proper input sanitization and parameterized queries within the logging infrastructure helps prevent similar vulnerabilities from manifesting in future deployments. Security monitoring should include anomaly detection for unusual syslog message patterns that could indicate SQL injection attempts, as well as regular audit of database access logs to identify unauthorized SQL command execution. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1070.004 (Indicator Removal on Host) through log manipulation and T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) through remote exploitation of the syslog service. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on suspicious SQL command patterns, as well as establishing robust patch management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.