CVE-2006-4504 in NX5Linx
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in NX5Linx 1.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) c and (2) l parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2018
The CVE-2006-4504 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw discovered in NX5Linx version 1.0, a network management and monitoring tool that was widely deployed in industrial and enterprise environments during the mid-2000s. This vulnerability specifically affects the application's handling of user input parameters, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability impacts the c and l parameters within the application's web interface, which are processed without adequate input validation or sanitization, making them prime targets for sql injection attacks. The affected software was commonly used in network monitoring scenarios where it would process user requests containing these parameters, typically through web-based interfaces that would forward the input directly to backend database systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious input strings containing sql payload within the c and l parameters. When these parameters are processed by NX5Linx without proper sanitization, the application constructs sql queries that incorporate the attacker's input directly into the database command execution flow. This creates a situation where legitimate sql commands can be subverted or extended through malicious input, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands on the underlying database server. The vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws in software applications, and it aligns with the attack pattern described in the attack tree framework where adversaries leverage input validation weaknesses to manipulate database operations. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it allows for complete database compromise, enabling attackers to read, modify, or delete sensitive data, potentially leading to unauthorized access to network configuration details, user credentials, or operational data.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-4504 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with a foothold for further network penetration and lateral movement within affected environments. Organizations utilizing NX5Linx 1.0 were at risk of having their network monitoring systems compromised, which could result in the exposure of critical infrastructure information and potentially facilitate more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers could potentially compromise systems from outside the network perimeter, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that did not implement proper network segmentation or firewall rules to restrict access to these monitoring systems. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper sql query construction practices as outlined in secure coding guidelines such as those recommended by the software engineering institute's secure coding standards, where the principle of least privilege and input sanitization should be strictly enforced.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4504 should focus on immediate patching of affected NX5Linx installations, as the vulnerability was addressed through software updates that implemented proper input validation and parameter sanitization. Organizations should implement proper input filtering mechanisms that validate all user-supplied data against expected formats and reject malformed input before it reaches database processing layers. The use of prepared statements and parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application codebase to prevent sql injection attacks, as this approach ensures that user input is treated as data rather than executable code. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to unauthorized users, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy systems. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include network monitoring, intrusion detection systems, and regular vulnerability scanning to identify and remediate similar sql injection vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure.