CVE-2006-6450 in Zenworks Patch Management Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in dagent/downloadreport.asp in Novell ZENworks Patch Management (ZPM) before 6.3.2.700 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) agentid and (2) pass parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6450 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Novell ZENworks Patch Management version 6.3.2.700 and earlier releases. This security weakness resides in the dagent/downloadreport.asp component which serves as a crucial interface for downloading patch reports from managed agents. The vulnerability specifically affects two parameter inputs named agentid and pass, which are processed without adequate input validation or sanitization mechanisms. Attackers exploiting this flaw can manipulate these parameters to inject malicious SQL commands that will be executed against the underlying database system. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a critical weakness in software security that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through untrusted input data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers provide specially crafted values in the agentid and pass parameters of the downloadreport.asp script. These parameters are directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper parameterization or input filtering, creating an environment where malicious SQL payloads can be executed with the privileges of the database user account. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can potentially gain complete control over the database backend, execute arbitrary commands, modify or delete sensitive information, and establish persistent access points within the targeted environment. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote code execution without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise patch management systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability within enterprise environments is severe and multifaceted. Organizations using Novell ZENworks Patch Management before version 6.3.2.700 face significant risk of data compromise, system disruption, and potential lateral movement within their networks. Since patch management systems typically contain sensitive information about system configurations, vulnerabilities, and security patches, successful exploitation could provide attackers with detailed insights into the organization's security posture. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate patch deployment processes, potentially preventing critical security updates from being applied to systems or even deploying malicious patches. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials use and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through various attack vectors including SQL injection.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the official patch released by Novell for ZENworks Patch Management version 6.3.2.700 or later, which addresses the input validation issues in the affected ASP component. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened around the patch management system to limit exposure to untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, parameterized queries, and web application firewalls can provide defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper secure coding practices including input sanitization and parameterized database queries as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST guidelines for secure software development. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the patch management infrastructure, as this vulnerability represents a common pattern of insecure parameter handling that could exist in other parts of the system.