CVE-2012-5872 in ARC
Summary
by MITRE • 04/26/2023
ARC (aka ARC2) through 2011-12-01 allows blind SQL Injection in getTriplePatternSQL in ARC2_StoreSelectQueryHandler.php via comments in a SPARQL WHERE clause.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5872 affects the ARC2 library, specifically the ARC2_StoreSelectQueryHandler.php component, which is used for handling SPARQL queries in semantic web applications. This issue represents a significant security flaw that enables attackers to perform blind SQL injection attacks against systems utilizing this library. The vulnerability specifically targets the getTriplePatternSQL function within the store select query handler, where insufficient input validation allows malicious SQL commands to be injected through comment syntax within SPARQL WHERE clauses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper sanitization of user-supplied input within the SPARQL query processing pipeline. When users submit SPARQL queries containing comments that are subsequently processed by the getTriplePatternSQL function, the library fails to adequately escape or validate these comment sequences. This oversight creates an injection vector where attackers can craft malicious SPARQL queries that, when processed, execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. The blind nature of this injection means that attackers cannot directly observe database query results, but can infer information through timing attacks or by observing application behavior changes, making detection more challenging.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5872 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could lead to complete database compromise, unauthorized data modification, or even system escalation. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on ARC2 for semantic web data processing and query execution, potentially impacting applications in research institutions, knowledge management systems, and linked data platforms. Organizations utilizing this library in production environments face significant risk of data breaches, as the vulnerability can be exploited through legitimate SPARQL query interfaces without requiring special privileges or direct database access. The specific targeting of the WHERE clause in SPARQL queries makes this attack surface particularly concerning for applications that process user-submitted queries, as it can be leveraged through standard query interfaces.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate code-level fixes including comprehensive input validation and sanitization of all SPARQL query components, particularly comment sections within WHERE clauses. Organizations should implement proper parameterized query construction techniques and avoid direct concatenation of user input into SQL commands. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which describes SQL injection flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1190, representing the exploitation of vulnerabilities in applications to gain unauthorized access to backend databases. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious SPARQL query patterns, while organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their semantic web applications to identify potential variants of this vulnerability. Regular security updates and patches should be prioritized, with particular attention to ensuring that all components of the semantic web stack are maintained at secure versions to prevent exploitation of similar injection vulnerabilities.