CVE-2014-4424 in OS X Server
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Wiki Server in CoreCollaboration in Apple OS X Server before 2.2.3 and 3.x before 3.2.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2022
The CVE-2014-4424 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the wiki server component of apple os x server software. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 2.2.3 in the 2.2.x series and 3.2.1 in the 3.x series, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on apple's server infrastructure for collaborative content management. The vulnerability resides in the core collaboration framework that powers wiki functionality, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise server environments. The flaw allows remote adversaries to inject malicious sql commands through unspecified attack vectors, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumeration category 89, which classifies sql injection as a critical flaw where untrusted data is directly incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The vulnerability's impact stems from the lack of input validation mechanisms within the wiki server's database interaction layer, particularly in how user-supplied data is processed and passed to backend sql engines. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious inputs that manipulate the sql execution flow, potentially gaining unauthorized access to database contents, executing arbitrary commands, or even escalating privileges within the server environment. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack surface may encompass multiple input points within the wiki server's user interface or api endpoints.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations using apple os x server for collaborative documentation and knowledge management. The remote execution capability means attackers can exploit this flaw from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or local credentials, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments. Organizations may face data breaches, unauthorized modifications to collaborative content, and potential system compromise that could affect other services running on the same server infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in core collaboration software means that even minor usage of wiki functionality could expose the entire server to attack, creating a significant attack surface that extends beyond traditional web application boundaries. This type of vulnerability commonly maps to attack techniques within the attack tree framework where adversaries seek to establish persistent access through initial compromise of web applications.
The remediation approach for CVE-2014-4424 requires immediate patching of affected apple os x server installations to versions 2.2.3 or 3.2.1 respectively. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures and ensure proper parameterization of all database queries within the wiki server component. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of vulnerable server components. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, including unusual database query patterns or unauthorized access attempts to wiki functionality. Regular security assessments of collaborative software components should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date server software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect critical collaborative infrastructure from sql injection attacks that could compromise entire server environments.