CVE-2011-1933 in Jifty::DBI
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Jifty::DBI before 0.68.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2019
The SQL injection vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1933 affects Jifty::DBI versions prior to 0.68, representing a critical security flaw that allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through improperly sanitized input parameters. This vulnerability resides within the database abstraction layer of the Jifty web application framework, which is designed to simplify database operations for developers building web applications. The flaw specifically manifests when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL query strings without adequate sanitization or parameterization, creating an attack surface where malicious inputs can manipulate the intended database behavior. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which denotes SQL injection, a well-documented weakness in software security that has been consistently ranked among the top ten web application security risks by OWASP.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the query construction level within Jifty::DBI's database interface, where user input is concatenated directly into SQL statements instead of being properly escaped or parameterized. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that alters the SQL query structure, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete database compromise. The vulnerability affects any application utilizing Jifty::DBI for database operations and where user input is processed without proper validation or sanitization. This flaw enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including but not limited to data extraction, data manipulation, privilege escalation, and potentially complete system compromise through database-level attacks.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential system-wide compromise, particularly when the affected database contains sensitive information or when the database user account has elevated privileges. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web forms, API endpoints, or any interface that processes user input and forwards it to the database through Jifty::DBI. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.005 Application Layer Protocol and T1566 Credential Access, as attackers can leverage it to extract credentials or gain unauthorized access to database resources. Organizations running affected versions of Jifty::DBI are exposed to significant risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited with relatively simple techniques and can result in data breaches, compliance violations, and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1933 primarily involve upgrading to Jifty::DBI version 0.68 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and parameterization mechanisms. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices across all database interactions, ensuring that user-supplied data is never directly concatenated into SQL queries. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should be mandatory for all database operations, which aligns with industry best practices outlined in OWASP's SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web applications. Network segmentation and database access controls should be implemented to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, while regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to maintain ongoing protection against similar threats.