CVE-2011-4341 in symphony
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in symphony/content/content.publish.php in Symphony CMS 2.2.3 and possibly other versions before 2.2.4 allow remote authenticated users with Author permissions to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the filter parameter to (1) symphony/publish/comments or (2) symphony/publish/images. NOTE: this issue can be leveraged to perform cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via error messages. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-4341 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Symphony CMS version 2.2.3 and prior releases. This security weakness resides in the content.publish.php file, specifically within the filter parameter handling mechanism that processes requests to symphony/publish/comments and symphony/publish/images endpoints. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users with Author permissions, meaning that attackers who can gain access to legitimate user accounts can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database system. The attack vector requires minimal privileges, making it especially dangerous in environments where user access controls may not be strictly enforced.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic SQL injection pattern where malicious input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being incorporated into database queries. When the filter parameter is processed through the content.publish.php script, the application fails to adequately validate or escape user-supplied data, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed by the database engine. This flaw is categorized under CWE-89 as SQL injection, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the critical importance of proper data sanitization in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data extraction or modification. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain complete control over the database backend, potentially leading to data theft, unauthorized modifications, or even complete system compromise. The vulnerability's ability to be used for cross-site scripting attacks through error messages adds another layer of complexity to the threat landscape, as it allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can target other users within the same application environment. This dual nature of the vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous for content management systems where user interactions are frequent and where the application handles sensitive data. The attack can result in persistent XSS payloads that remain active until manually removed, providing attackers with extended access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching to Symphony CMS version 2.2.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the SQL injection flaws. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout their applications to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. The implementation of web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify potential injection points and other security weaknesses. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers may use the vulnerability to establish persistent access and exfiltrate data through various network protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls, ensuring that users only have the minimum permissions necessary to perform their duties, thereby limiting the potential damage from compromised accounts.