CVE-2012-4240 in Group-Office
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in modules/calendar/json.php in Group-Office community before 4.0.90 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the sort parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4240 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Group-Office community platform version 4.0.89 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the modules/calendar/json.php script which processes calendar data through JSON responses. The vulnerability specifically affects authenticated users who can manipulate the sort parameter to inject malicious SQL commands into the database query execution flow. The flaw enables attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and directly interact with the underlying database system, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the calendar module's JSON endpoint. When the sort parameter is processed, the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows an authenticated attacker to construct malicious SQL statements that execute with the privileges of the web application's database user account. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization. The attack vector requires authentication, making this a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited by users who already have access to the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4240 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass full database compromise capabilities. An attacker with valid credentials could potentially extract sensitive information including user accounts, calendar entries, and other organizational data stored within the Group-Office system. The vulnerability also enables data manipulation attacks where malicious SQL commands could modify or delete calendar events, potentially disrupting business operations and compromising organizational security. Additionally, the attacker might escalate privileges to gain access to underlying database systems, creating potential lateral movement opportunities within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation and T1566.001 which addresses credential access through application-specific attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the Group-Office community platform to version 4.0.90 or later where the SQL injection flaw has been addressed. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent similar issues in other components of their systems. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the impact of authenticated attacks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual database access patterns. The implementation of web application firewalls and security scanning tools can provide additional layers of protection against SQL injection attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in custom applications and third-party software components, ensuring compliance with security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.