CVE-2014-100035 in ArcticDesk
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the ticket grid in the admin interface in LicensePal ArcticDesk before 1.2.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2018
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the administrative interface of LicensePal ArcticDesk software version 1.2.4 and earlier. The vulnerability specifically targets the ticket grid functionality that administrators use to manage support tickets, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple input points within the ticket grid functionality could be exploited, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category of CWE-89 sql injection, which is classified as a high severity issue in the owasp top ten security risks. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates within the administrative interface, which typically has elevated privileges and access to sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate sql queries through input fields within the ticket grid display mechanism. When administrators view ticket information through the grid interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into sql statements. This lack of input validation creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious sql payloads that can bypass authentication, extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can potentially allow full database compromise and system takeover. According to the attack tactics framework, this represents a privilege escalation and data exposure technique that aligns with the mitre att&ck matrix domain of credential access and defense evasion.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using ArcticDesk versions prior to 1.2.5, as it provides remote attackers with a direct pathway to database compromise through the administrative interface. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to customer support tickets, personal data, system configurations, and potentially other sensitive information stored within the database. The vulnerability's presence in the admin interface means that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, especially if the database credentials have broad access permissions. Security monitoring should focus on identifying unusual sql query patterns, unauthorized administrative access attempts, and abnormal data access patterns within the ticketing system. The vulnerability also represents a persistent risk since it affects the core administrative functionality that system administrators rely on for daily operations, making detection and remediation more complex.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should immediately prioritize updating to ArcticDesk version 1.2.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the sql injection flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data within the administrative interface, particularly in grid display components. Database access controls should be reviewed to ensure that administrative accounts have the minimum necessary privileges, following the principle of least privilege. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and sql injection detection systems can provide additional layers of protection. Regular security assessments of administrative interfaces should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in functionality while maintaining the security improvements. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and alerting systems to detect potential exploitation attempts.