CVE-2011-5145 in Open Business Management
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Open Business Management (OBM) 2.4.0-rc13 and probably earlier allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) sel_domain_id or (2) action parameter to obm.php; (3) tf_user parameter in a search action to group/group_index.php; (4) tf_delegation, (5) tf_ip, (6) tf_name to host/host_index.php; or (7) lang, (8) theme, (9) cal_alert, (10) cal_first_hour, (11) cal_interval, (12) cal_last_hour, (13) commentorder, (14) csv_sep, (15) date, (16) date_upd, (17) debug_exe, (18) debug_id, (19) debug_param, (20) debug_sess, (21) debug_solr, (22) debug_sql, (23) dsrc, (24) menu, (25) rows, (26) sel_display_days, (27) timeformat, (28) timezone, or (29) todo parameter to settings/settings_index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5145 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Open Business Management version 2.4.0-rc13 and potentially earlier releases. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's web interface, specifically affecting multiple parameters across various php scripts. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to manipulate database queries through carefully crafted input data, potentially leading to complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive business information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability spans across multiple entry points within the OBM application framework, creating a broad attack surface for malicious actors. Parameters such as sel_domain_id and action in obm.php, tf_user in group/group_index.php, and numerous configuration parameters in settings/settings_index.php all present opportunities for SQL injection exploitation. The vulnerability manifests when user-supplied input is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization, violating fundamental security principles outlined in CWE-89. This weakness enables attackers to inject malicious SQL code that executes with the privileges of the database user account, potentially allowing full database access, data exfiltration, or even system compromise through database-level commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with persistent access to critical business information and system configurations. An authenticated user with minimal privileges could leverage this vulnerability to escalate their access level within the application, potentially gaining administrative control over the entire OBM system. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication, making it accessible to insiders or compromised accounts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1046 Network Service Scanning, as attackers could use this weakness to enumerate system components and establish persistent access. The vulnerability's presence in multiple modules also indicates a systemic design flaw in input handling, suggesting that similar weaknesses may exist in other parts of the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-5145 should focus on implementing proper input validation, parameterized queries, and output encoding throughout the application. The most effective approach involves updating to a patched version of OBM, as the vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases through improved input sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, database query parameterization, and strict input validation rules can provide defense-in-depth protection. Security configurations should enforce least privilege access controls, and regular security assessments should verify that all input parameters are properly sanitized. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for preventing injection vulnerabilities.