CVE-2012-1506 in OrangeHRM
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the updateStatus function in lib/models/benefits/Hsp.php in OrangeHRM before 2.7 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the hspSummaryId parameter to plugins/ajaxCalls/haltResumeHsp.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2025
The CVE-2012-1506 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the OrangeHRM enterprise human resources management system. This vulnerability exists in the updateStatus function located in the lib/models/benefits/Hsp.php file, which is part of the Hsp.php model responsible for handling health service provider data. The vulnerability specifically affects OrangeHRM versions prior to 2.7, making it a significant concern for organizations that have not upgraded their systems. The attack vector requires an authenticated user, which means that the threat is not entirely open to anonymous exploitation but still represents a serious risk as it can be leveraged by compromised or malicious insiders. The vulnerability is triggered through the hspSummaryId parameter in the plugins/ajaxCalls/haltResumeHsp.php endpoint, which serves as the entry point for the malicious SQL injection attack.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the updateStatus function. When an authenticated user submits a request to the haltResumeHsp.php endpoint with a maliciously crafted hspSummaryId parameter, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed within the database context. The CWE-89 classification applies directly to this vulnerability, as it represents a classic SQL injection weakness where user-controllable data is directly concatenated into SQL command strings without adequate sanitization measures. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input handling practices that violate fundamental security principles for database interaction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database system. This means that an authenticated attacker could potentially escalate their privileges, extract sensitive employee information, modify critical HR data, or even gain complete database access. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire OrangeHRM system, particularly the benefits management functionality that handles sensitive employee health service provider information. Organizations using this system could face significant data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences. The attack could result in unauthorized modification of employee records, disruption of HR services, and compromise of personal health information, all of which are subject to strict regulatory requirements under various data protection frameworks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to OrangeHRM version 2.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this SQL injection flaw. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout their applications to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that database accounts used by the application have minimal required permissions, reducing the potential impact of successful attacks. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the system. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) techniques, as it represents a common exploitation method targeting web application interfaces. Network segmentation and monitoring of database access patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while comprehensive backup and recovery procedures should be maintained to ensure business continuity in case of successful attacks.