CVE-2011-4521 in WebAccess
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Advantech/BroadWin WebAccess before 7.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via crafted string input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2017
The CVE-2011-4521 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw discovered in advantech/broadwin webaccess software versions prior to 7.0. This vulnerability resides within the webaccess platform which is widely used for industrial automation and monitoring systems across various sectors including manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure management. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the webaccess web interface, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted string inputs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious sql commands directly into the webaccess application interface without requiring authentication or physical access to the system. The flaw occurs when user-supplied input is directly concatenated into sql query strings without proper sanitization or parameterization, enabling attackers to manipulate the intended database operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities in software applications. The attack vector leverages the webaccess web server's handling of user input through http requests, where malicious payloads can be embedded in form fields, url parameters, or api calls that are subsequently processed by the backend database engine.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or manipulation, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying database server. This level of access can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, modification of critical operational parameters, or disruption of industrial processes. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on webaccess for their industrial control systems, potentially exposing critical infrastructure to unauthorized access and manipulation. Given the industrial nature of webaccess deployments, the consequences can be severe including production downtime, safety hazards, and regulatory compliance violations that may trigger investigations under frameworks such as nist cyber security framework and iso 27001 standards.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4521 should prioritize immediate software updates to webaccess version 7.0 or later, which includes proper input validation and sql query parameterization. Organizations should implement web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious sql injection attempts, while also conducting thorough input validation at multiple layers of the application stack. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in industrial control system applications, with particular attention to the att&ck framework's command and control techniques that may leverage such sql injection vulnerabilities for persistent access to industrial networks.