CVE-2011-5262 in Aventail Sra Ex7000
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in prodpage.cfm in SonicWALL Aventail allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the CategoryID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5262 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SonicWALL Aventail prodpage.cfm component, which falls under the broader category of insecure input handling and inadequate output escaping as defined by CWE-89. This vulnerability specifically affects the SonicWALL Aventail authentication and access management system, which is widely deployed in enterprise environments for securing network access and user authentication. The flaw exists in the way the application processes user-supplied input through the CategoryID parameter, which is used to filter and display product categories within the web interface. When an attacker submits malicious input through this parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into sql queries, creating a direct pathway for sql injection attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database without authentication, as documented in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1190 for exploit public-facing application. The CategoryID parameter serves as the attack vector where malicious sql payloads can be injected, potentially enabling attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even gain administrative access to the database system. This vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and violates fundamental security principles of input sanitization and parameterized queries. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, modify access controls, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where SonicWALL Aventail systems often serve as critical access points for corporate networks, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise network security.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on SonicWALL Aventail solutions, as it creates a persistent threat that can remain undetected for extended periods. Attackers can use this vulnerability to enumerate database schemas, extract user credentials, access sensitive corporate information, or manipulate access control lists. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or system to carry out attacks, making it particularly dangerous in cloud or distributed environments where network boundaries are less defined. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and significant financial losses as a result of exploitation. The vulnerability also represents a potential pathway for lateral movement within networks, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with additional access points for further compromise. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as part of their comprehensive threat modeling efforts, particularly when evaluating the security posture of network access control systems and authentication infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-5262 should focus on immediate patching of affected SonicWALL Aventail systems, as well as implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to filter malicious sql injection payloads and implement proper input validation at all application entry points. The principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the database permissions of the application, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications within the network infrastructure. Additionally, organizations should implement proper logging and monitoring of database activities to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and the implementation of parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks, aligning with industry standards and best practices established by organizations such as owasp and nist. Regular security awareness training for development teams is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future application deployments.