CVE-2013-1893 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in addressbookprovider.php in ownCloud Server before 5.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors, related to the contacts application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1893 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the ownCloud Server platform that specifically affects the addressbookprovider.php component. This security weakness exists within the contacts application module of ownCloud versions prior to 5.0.1, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability's classification as a SQL injection issue places it under CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, highlighting the fundamental nature of the flaw in database query construction. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate database operations through crafted input parameters that are not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into SQL queries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users leverage the contacts application functionality to submit malicious input that gets directly incorporated into database queries without adequate sanitization. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the database user associated with the ownCloud installation. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through multiple input points within the contacts application, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even gain elevated privileges within the system's database layer. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has already compromised a legitimate user account can leverage this weakness to perform more extensive database operations.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to manipulate the entire contacts database and potentially access other system resources that rely on the same database infrastructure. This SQL injection vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations using ownCloud for collaborative file sharing and contact management, as it allows for persistent access to sensitive personal and business contact information. The vulnerability's presence in the contacts application means that attackers could potentially access detailed address book data including names, email addresses, phone numbers, and other personal information that users might consider confidential. Organizations relying on ownCloud for business operations face potential regulatory compliance violations and reputational damage if such vulnerabilities are exploited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1893 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates to ownCloud version 5.0.1 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the SQL injection vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data within the contacts application, regular security auditing of database queries, and monitoring for suspicious database access patterns. The implementation of proper parameterized queries and prepared statements should be enforced throughout the application codebase to prevent similar vulnerabilities from manifesting in other components. Organizations should also consider network-level security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block SQL injection attempts, though these should not replace proper code-level fixes. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications, credential access, and privilege escalation, making it a significant concern for threat actors seeking persistent access to organizational data repositories.