CVE-2013-7092 in Email Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in /admin/cgi-bin/rpc/doReport/18 in McAfee Email Gateway 7.6 allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) events_col, (2) event_id, (3) reason, (4) events_order, (5) emailstatus_order, or (6) emailstatus_col JSON keys.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2022
The CVE-2013-7092 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in McAfee Email Gateway version 7.6 within the administrative web interface. This vulnerability exists in the specific endpoint /admin/cgi-bin/rpc/doReport/18 which handles report generation functionality. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to manipulate database queries through carefully crafted JSON parameters, potentially leading to complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive email data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the report generation module. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious data through six distinct JSON parameters: events_col, event_id, reason, events_order, emailstatus_order, and emailstatus_col. These parameters are processed without proper escaping or parameterization, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code that executes within the database context. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authentication, meaning that any user with valid credentials can exploit this flaw.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-7092 extends far beyond simple data theft. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract all email communications stored in the gateway's database, including sensitive business correspondence, personal information, and potentially confidential intellectual property. The vulnerability also permits attackers to modify or delete database records, potentially disrupting email services or creating false audit trails. Additionally, the compromised system could serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure, particularly in environments where the email gateway acts as a central communication hub.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of CWE-89 SQL injection, which falls under the broader category of injection flaws in the OWASP Top Ten. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-supplied patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, and enforcing strict authentication controls. Additional defensive measures include database query parameterization, input validation, and monitoring for unusual database access patterns. Regular security assessments should verify that all administrative interfaces properly sanitize user inputs and that access controls are appropriately configured to prevent unauthorized administrative access.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in enterprise security products, where administrative interfaces often contain the most privileged access points. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their email security infrastructure and ensure that all third-party security products receive timely security updates. This incident highlights the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include network monitoring, database activity logging, and regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other security infrastructure components.