CVE-2013-2627 in Leed
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in action.php in Leed (Light Feed), possibly before 1.5 Stable, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter in a removeFolder action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2627 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Leed (Light Feed) content management system that affects versions prior to 1.5 Stable. This vulnerability exists in the action.php script and specifically targets the id parameter during a removeFolder action, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and proper parameter sanitization, allowing malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input values that are directly incorporated into SQL statements without adequate filtering or escaping mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a specially crafted id parameter value that contains malicious SQL code. The action.php script fails to properly sanitize or escape this input before incorporating it into database queries, resulting in the execution of unintended SQL commands. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper validation or escaping. The impact is particularly severe because the vulnerability allows for complete database compromise, potentially enabling attackers to extract sensitive information, modify or delete data, or even escalate privileges within the database system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using affected versions of Leed as it provides remote attackers with database-level access without requiring authentication. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that the vulnerability is accessible through web-based interactions, making it particularly dangerous for publicly exposed systems. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform unauthorized data access, data manipulation, or even gain persistence within the system through database-level modifications. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting web applications through SQL injection vectors that can be exploited without direct system access.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading to Leed version 1.5 Stable or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement input validation measures at the application level, including proper parameter sanitization and the use of prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues within the application stack, and all input parameters should be validated against expected data types and ranges to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles.