CVE-2012-2601 in WhatsUp Gold
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in WrVMwareHostList.asp in Ipswitch WhatsUp Gold 15.02 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the sGroupList parameter.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2601 represents a critical sql injection flaw within Ipswitch WhatsUp Gold version 15.02 specifically affecting the WrVMwareHostList.asp component. This vulnerability resides in the web interface of the network monitoring and management software, which is widely deployed in enterprise environments for infrastructure monitoring. The flaw manifests through improper input validation of the sGroupList parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or parameterization mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets directly embedded into sql queries executed by the backend database system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard sql injection attack patterns where the sGroupList parameter in the WrVMwareHostList.asp script receives user-supplied data without proper validation or encoding. When an attacker submits malicious sql payload through this parameter, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize the input before incorporating it into database queries. This allows the attacker to manipulate the intended sql command structure and inject arbitrary sql commands that execute with the privileges of the database user account associated with the WhatsUp Gold application. The vulnerability is classified under cwe-89 sql injection as defined by the common weakness enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations utilizing Ipswitch WhatsUp Gold for network monitoring, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute unauthorized database operations. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or even system takeover depending on the database user permissions. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers could potentially modify network monitoring configurations, disrupt service availability, or establish persistent backdoors through database manipulation. Given that WhatsUp Gold is commonly used in enterprise environments, the potential attack surface includes critical infrastructure monitoring data that could be leveraged for further lateral movement within networks.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is remote and requires no authentication for initial exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in unpatched environments. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with attack techniques categorized under the attack pattern taxonomy, specifically targeting web application input validation weaknesses. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and web application firewalls to protect against exploitation attempts. The recommended remediation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or upgrading to newer versions of Ipswitch WhatsUp Gold that have addressed this specific sql injection vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation and principle of least privilege configurations should be enforced to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.