CVE-2012-5910 in b2evolution
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in blogs/htsrv/viewfile.php in b2evolution 4.1.3 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the root parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2019
The CVE-2012-5910 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the b2evolution content management system version 4.1.3, specifically affecting the blogs/htsrv/viewfile.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the root parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL commands through the vulnerable parameter, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization practices within the b2evolution application code. When the root parameter is submitted through the viewfile.php endpoint, the system fails to properly escape or parameterize the input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. This allows an authenticated user to craft malicious input that bypasses normal query execution boundaries and injects arbitrary SQL commands. The vulnerability specifically targets the database layer where user-supplied data is directly concatenated into SQL statements without appropriate security controls.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing b2evolution 4.1.3, as it provides authenticated attackers with the ability to execute unauthorized database operations. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive information from the database, modify or delete content, escalate privileges within the application, or potentially gain further access to underlying system resources. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials, but this access level significantly increases the potential impact compared to unauthenticated attacks. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection flaws as weaknesses in software that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through untrusted input.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to include complete system compromise, particularly when the database contains administrative credentials or system configuration data. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges within the application, access user accounts, or manipulate the content management system's core functionality. The impact is further amplified by the fact that b2evolution is a web-based blogging platform, making it a potential target for attackers seeking to compromise websites and their associated data. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a version that addresses this vulnerability, implementing input validation and parameterized queries in the affected application components, and conducting thorough security assessments of the application's database interactions. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in application functionality while maintaining the security improvements necessary to protect against SQL injection attacks.