CVE-2012-10047 in Cyclope Employee Surveillance Solution
Summary
by MITRE • 08/08/2025
Cyclope Employee Surveillance Solution versions 6.x are vulnerable to a SQL injection flaw in its login mechanism. The username parameter in the auth-login POST request is not properly sanitized, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL statements. This can be leveraged to write and execute a malicious PHP file on disk, resulting in remote code execution under the SYSTEM user context.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2026
The Cyclope Employee Surveillance Solution version 6.x represents a critical security vulnerability through its unpatched SQL injection flaw in the authentication mechanism. This vulnerability specifically targets the username parameter within the auth-login POST request, where insufficient input validation and sanitization allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands directly into the application's database layer. The flaw resides in the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-supplied input before processing it within database queries, creating an exploitable entry point that violates fundamental security principles of input validation and sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a systematic approach that begins with SQL injection payload construction targeting the username parameter. Attackers can craft malicious inputs that manipulate the SQL query structure to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to the system. Once authenticated, the vulnerability extends beyond simple credential bypass to enable remote code execution capabilities through the injection of malicious PHP code into the filesystem. This escalation occurs because the application's insufficient sanitization allows attackers to write and execute PHP files directly on the server under the SYSTEM user context, which provides the highest level of privileges and system-level access. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that the exploitation does not require prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous for networked environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond immediate unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over the surveillance system and potentially the underlying network infrastructure. The SYSTEM user context execution means that attackers can manipulate surveillance data, access sensitive employee information, modify system configurations, and establish persistent access points within the organization's network. This vulnerability directly violates multiple security principles and can be mapped to CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in software applications. Organizations running this surveillance solution face significant risk of data breaches, privacy violations, and potential lateral movement within their networks, as the compromised system can serve as a launching point for further attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks, which aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of the Cyclope Employee Surveillance Solution or implement web application firewalls to filter malicious SQL injection attempts. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls, regular security assessments, and network segmentation can help reduce the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security patch management and proper code review processes to prevent similar issues in custom applications, particularly those handling sensitive employee data and system-level operations.