CVE-2011-5031 in capexweb
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in servlet/capexweb.parentvalidatepassword in cApexWEB 1.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) dfuserid and (2) dfpassword parameters. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5031 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the cApexWEB 1.1 web application framework. This vulnerability specifically affects the servlet component named capexweb.parentvalidatepassword which handles parent authentication processes. The flaw manifests through two distinct parameter inputs dfuserid and dfpassword that are processed without adequate sanitization or validation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog and is consistently ranked among the top ten web application security risks by OWASP. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database system, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information, modifying database contents, or even escalating privileges within the application environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the entire authentication and authorization framework of the cApexWEB system. When remote attackers inject malicious SQL payloads through the dfuserid and dfpassword parameters, they can bypass authentication mechanisms entirely, potentially gaining administrative access to the application. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or network, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, where adversaries target vulnerabilities in externally accessible web services. The consequences can include complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Organizations using cApexWEB 1.1 are at significant risk of unauthorized access to parent account credentials and related educational data, potentially affecting thousands of user accounts and sensitive personal information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-5031 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. All user-supplied input, particularly the dfuserid and dfpassword parameters, must be sanitized and validated before being processed by the application. Organizations should implement proper input filtering techniques that reject or escape potentially dangerous SQL characters and sequences. The application should utilize prepared statements or parameterized queries rather than dynamic query construction, which is the fundamental defense against SQL injection attacks according to the OWASP SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and least privilege principles can limit the damage if an attacker does manage to exploit the vulnerability. Regular security assessments, including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing, should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process should also include updating to the latest version of cApexWEB if available, as this vulnerability was likely addressed in subsequent releases. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring for suspicious database access patterns and SQL injection attempts, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS to detect potential exploitation activities.