CVE-2011-3265 in Zabbix
Summary
by MITRE
popup.php in Zabbix before 1.8.7 allows remote attackers to read the contents of arbitrary database tables via a modified srctbl parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3265 affects Zabbix monitoring software versions prior to 1.8.7, specifically within the popup.php component. This represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to access sensitive database information through manipulation of the srctbl parameter. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper access controls within the web application's database interaction mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a classic SQL injection pattern where the srctbl parameter is directly incorporated into database queries without adequate sanitization or authorization checks. When an attacker modifies this parameter, they can craft malicious database table names that the application then queries without proper validation. This allows unauthorized access to arbitrary database tables, potentially exposing sensitive monitoring data including user credentials, system configurations, and performance metrics. The flaw operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible monitoring systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations relying on Zabbix for system monitoring and security operations. The exposure of database contents could lead to credential theft, system compromise, and unauthorized access to critical infrastructure monitoring data. Attackers could potentially gain insights into network topology, system vulnerabilities, and operational procedures that would aid in further attacks. The impact extends beyond immediate data exposure to include potential lateral movement within networks where monitoring systems are integrated with other security tools. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which describes SQL injection flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Zabbix version 1.8.7 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Additional mitigations include implementing proper input validation at the application level, enforcing strict access controls for database queries, and applying network-level restrictions to limit access to monitoring interfaces. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns and parameter manipulation attempts. Regular security assessments of monitoring systems are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper parameter validation and access control mechanisms in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive operational data. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and privilege separation to minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities.