CVE-2014-1820 in SQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Master Data Services (MDS) in Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 and 2014 on 64-bit platforms allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL, aka "SQL Master Data Services XSS Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2022
The CVE-2014-1820 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Microsoft SQL Server Master Data Services component, specifically affecting SQL Server 2012 SP1 and SQL Server 2014 installations running on 64-bit architectures. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised systems. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the MDS component processes user-supplied input through crafted URLs without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters that are subsequently processed by the Master Data Services interface. When a malicious user crafts a specially designed URL containing script tags or other malicious HTML content, the vulnerable MDS component fails to properly validate or sanitize this input before rendering it in the user's browser. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code that executes in the context of the victim's session. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges beyond basic network access and can be delivered through standard web browsing mechanisms. The vulnerability affects the web-based interface of MDS, making it accessible to attackers who can reach the SQL Server instance through network connections.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1820 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated attacks against authenticated users within the SQL Server environment. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or modify the display of sensitive data within the MDS interface. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where MDS is used for managing critical business data, as it could lead to unauthorized access to master data management functions. Additionally, the attack could be used to escalate privileges or establish persistent access points within the network, as the compromised user sessions could provide access to other systems that trust the same authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables the delivery of malicious payloads through web-based attack vectors.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security patches released in response to this vulnerability, as well as implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit exposure of the vulnerable MDS components to untrusted networks. Input validation and output encoding should be strengthened throughout the web applications that interface with MDS, particularly around URL parameters and user-supplied data. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual URL patterns or script injection attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices, which are fundamental requirements in the OWASP Top Ten security guidelines and align with Microsoft's secure coding practices. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the SQL Server ecosystem and ensure comprehensive protection against similar cross-site scripting attacks.