CVE-2012-2956 in SpiceWorks
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in SpiceWorks 5.3.75941 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter to api_v2.json. NOTE: this entry was SPLIT per ADT2 due to different vulnerability types. CVE-2012-6658 is for the XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2956 represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in SpiceWorks version 5.3.75941. This security weakness specifically affects the application's API endpoint at api_v2.json where the id parameter is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. The vulnerability enables remote authenticated attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the id parameter, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws that occur when untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid authentication credentials to the SpiceWorks application, as the flaw is accessible only to authenticated users. However, this authentication requirement does not mitigate the severity of the issue since authorized users with malicious intent could leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges or access sensitive data beyond their intended permissions. The vulnerability impacts the database layer directly, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands that could retrieve confidential information such as user credentials, system configurations, or business data stored within the application's database. The attack vector operates through the API endpoint which processes the id parameter, making it accessible to any authenticated user who can construct malicious requests to the api_v2.json endpoint.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to perform complete database compromise operations including data manipulation, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network. Organizations using SpiceWorks for IT asset management, help desk operations, or network monitoring could face significant consequences including exposure of sensitive infrastructure data, unauthorized access to system configurations, and potential disruption of critical IT services. The vulnerability's presence in the API layer means that automated attacks could be launched through scripts or tools that construct malicious requests, making the exploitation more scalable and less dependent on manual intervention. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1046 which involves network service scanning that could be used to identify vulnerable endpoints.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2956 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected SpiceWorks version to the latest available release that contains the SQL injection fix. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual API access patterns or suspicious database query behaviors. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar injection vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and proper input sanitization, particularly in web applications that handle user-provided data through API endpoints. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to provide additional layers of protection against SQL injection attacks.