CVE-2013-5967 in Open Source Security Information Management
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in AlienVault Open Source Security Information Management (OSSIM) 4.3 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the date_from parameter to (1) radar-iso27001-potential.php, (2) radar-iso27001-A12IS_acquisition-pot.php, (3) radar-iso27001-A11AccessControl-pot.php, (4) radar-iso27001-A10Com_OP_Mgnt-pot.php, or (5) radar-pci-potential.php in RadarReport/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5967 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting AlienVault Open Source Security Information Management (OSSIM) versions 4.3 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the RadarReport module of the OSSIM platform, which is designed for security information and event management. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes the date_from parameter through multiple PHP scripts, creating an avenue for remote attackers to manipulate database queries and potentially execute arbitrary SQL commands. The affected files include radar-iso27001-potential.php, radar-iso27001-A12IS_acquisition-pot.php, radar-iso27001-A11AccessControl-pot.php, radar-iso27001-A10Com_OP_Mgnt-pot.php, and radar-pci-potential.php, all of which are part of the ISO27001 and PCI compliance reporting functionalities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter sanitization within the affected PHP scripts. When an attacker submits malicious input through the date_from parameter, the application fails to properly escape or sanitize the input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that can manipulate database operations, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89, which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication, making it a remote code execution vulnerability that can be exploited from any network location.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can enable attackers to gain full administrative control over the underlying database system. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive security data, modify compliance reports, or even escalate privileges within the OSSIM environment. The vulnerability affects the core reporting functionality of the security information management platform, potentially compromising the integrity of security assessments and compliance documentation. Given that OSSIM is designed for security monitoring and incident response, this vulnerability creates a significant risk that could allow attackers to hide their activities while simultaneously undermining the security posture of organizations relying on the platform. The impact is particularly severe in regulated environments where ISO27001 and PCI compliance reporting is critical for maintaining security standards and regulatory compliance.
Organizations utilizing affected OSSIM versions should immediately implement mitigations including patching to the latest available version, which addresses the SQL injection vulnerabilities through proper input validation and parameter sanitization. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the affected web applications, while input validation should be enhanced at the application level to prevent malicious SQL code injection. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring for suspicious database queries and implementing database-level protections such as prepared statements and stored procedures to prevent direct SQL injection exploitation. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of the affected systems and consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against similar injection attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications, and represents a critical weakness that organizations must address immediately to maintain their security infrastructure integrity.