CVE-2012-5590 in Webmail Plus
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Webmail Plus module for Drupal allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2018
The CVE-2012-5590 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Webmail Plus module for Drupal content management systems. This vulnerability exposes Drupal installations to remote code execution risks through malicious SQL command injection attacks. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the module's database query handling mechanisms, creating exploitable entry points for attackers to manipulate backend database operations. The vulnerability affects versions of Drupal where the Webmail Plus module is installed, potentially compromising entire web applications and their underlying data repositories. Security researchers identified this weakness during routine vulnerability assessments, highlighting the dangerous implications of insufficient parameter validation in web application components.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when attackers craft malicious input parameters that bypass normal input sanitization procedures. The Webmail Plus module fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL queries, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the database user. This flaw operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the database interaction components of the module. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even gain complete administrative control over the affected systems. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description indicate that multiple input points within the module could potentially be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous and difficult to fully mitigate without comprehensive code review.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5590 extends far beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access. Organizations running vulnerable Drupal installations face significant risks including data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means attackers can target systems without requiring physical access or local network presence, making it particularly attractive for automated attacks. Database administrators and security teams must consider the potential for extensive data exfiltration, as attackers could access sensitive user information, system configurations, and business-critical data stored in the database. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing injection flaws and inadequate input validation. The exploitability of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers would typically probe for vulnerable systems before executing exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5590 require immediate action including patching the affected Webmail Plus module to the latest secure version. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and parameterized queries throughout their applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging. Database access controls should be reviewed and restricted to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Security teams must also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious SQL injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper code review processes and adherence to secure coding practices as outlined in CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses across the entire application ecosystem. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle SQL injection attacks and ensure proper logging and monitoring capabilities are in place to detect compromise attempts.