CVE-2013-2018 in BOINC
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in BOINC allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2023
The CVE-2013-2018 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing (BOINC) platform, a distributed computing framework widely used for scientific research projects. This vulnerability manifests as multiple SQL injection flaws that enable remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against affected systems. BOINC serves as a middleware platform that coordinates computing resources across thousands of volunteer computers worldwide, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise large-scale distributed computing environments. The vulnerability affects various components of the BOINC infrastructure including web interfaces, database communication layers, and administrative functions that handle user authentication and project management operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within BOINC's database interaction mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious SQL payloads that bypass normal input filtering procedures, allowing them to manipulate database queries directly through web interfaces or API endpoints. These injection points typically occur when user-supplied data is concatenated directly into SQL statements without proper escaping or parameterization. The vulnerability exists across multiple attack vectors including project submission forms, user authentication mechanisms, and administrative dashboard functionalities that process user inputs. The lack of proper input sanitization creates opportunities for attackers to extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even gain elevated privileges within the computing infrastructure. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a classic example of improper input validation that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2018 extends far beyond simple data compromise, as it can lead to complete system takeover of BOINC-managed computing projects. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to access confidential research data, manipulate computational results, or disrupt ongoing scientific computations that may involve sensitive medical research, climate modeling, or other critical scientific endeavors. The distributed nature of BOINC systems means that a successful exploitation could affect multiple projects simultaneously, potentially compromising thousands of volunteer computing resources. Additionally, the vulnerability can be exploited to establish persistent access points within the computing infrastructure, allowing attackers to maintain long-term presence and continue exfiltrating data or modifying system behavior. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that BOINC systems often process sensitive research data from various scientific institutions, government agencies, and private research organizations, making the potential for data breaches and intellectual property theft substantial.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2018 should prioritize immediate patching of affected BOINC installations, as this vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases through proper input validation and parameterized query implementations. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures including the use of prepared statements, stored procedures, and proper escaping mechanisms for all database interactions. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of BOINC web interfaces to untrusted networks, while regular security audits should verify proper implementation of security controls. The remediation process should include thorough testing of database interaction components to ensure that all input fields are properly sanitized and that no additional injection points remain. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and incident response procedures should be established to quickly address potential compromise scenarios. These measures align with ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and defense evasion, ensuring that organizations can detect and respond to exploitation attempts effectively while maintaining the integrity of their distributed computing infrastructure.