CVE-2010-1669 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Mahara 1.1.x before 1.1.9 and 1.2.x before 1.2.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2019
The CVE-2010-1669 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw discovered in the Mahara learning management system. This vulnerability affects versions 1.1.x prior to 1.1.9 and 1.2.x prior to 1.2.5, creating a significant security risk for educational institutions and organizations relying on this platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's database interaction layers, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands through unspecified attack vectors. This flaw fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the system's data storage mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities in software applications. The flaw operates by failing to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into sql query constructs. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that alters the intended sql query execution path, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data, modifying database records, or even executing administrative commands on the underlying database system. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be present across multiple input points within the application's interface, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various user interaction pathways.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations using Mahara for educational content management and student data handling. Successful exploitation could lead to complete database compromise, allowing attackers to extract sensitive information including student records, personal identifiers, and institutional data. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system, enabling widespread exploitation from any network location. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of data confidentiality and integrity, as outlined in the cia triad, and could result in regulatory compliance violations, legal consequences, and significant reputational damage for affected institutions.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2010-1669 requires immediate patching of affected Mahara installations to versions 1.1.9 or 1.2.5 and later, which contain the necessary input validation and sanitization fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at all application entry points, utilizing parameterized queries and prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the system architecture. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential attack surfaces, while application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of sql injection vulnerabilities for unauthorized database access, emphasizing the need for robust defensive measures including proper input sanitization and database access controls.