CVE-2014-4627 in RSA Web Threat Detection
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in EMC RSA Web Threat Detection 4.x before 4.6.1.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The CVE-2014-4627 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within EMC RSA Web Threat Detection version 4.x prior to 4.6.1.1, exposing organizations to significant security risks through remote authenticated attack vectors. This vulnerability specifically targets the web-based threat detection platform that organizations use to monitor and analyze security events across their networks. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to manipulate database queries through unspecified input vectors, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability's classification as a remote authenticated SQL injection aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where attacker-controlled data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The affected system operates as a centralized threat detection solution that processes security event data and generates alerts, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to compromise security monitoring capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the web application's database interaction layer. When authenticated users submit data through the web interface, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL syntax that can alter the intended query execution flow. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may exist across multiple input points within the application, including form fields, URL parameters, or API endpoints. The authentication requirement indicates that attackers must first establish valid credentials, either through legitimate means or by compromising existing accounts, before exploiting this vulnerability. This characteristic places the risk in the context of credential compromise scenarios and insider threats, while still maintaining the potential for significant impact due to the privileged access level required for exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4627 extends beyond simple data breach scenarios, as it can fundamentally compromise the integrity and availability of threat detection systems. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive security event data, potentially allowing them to identify system weaknesses, map network architectures, or even manipulate detection rules to evade security monitoring. The ability to execute arbitrary SQL commands means that attackers could modify user accounts, escalate privileges, or extract confidential information from the database. In a security operations context, this vulnerability directly undermines the trustworthiness of the threat detection platform, potentially leading to false negatives where malicious activities go undetected, or false positives that could overwhelm security teams. The impact is particularly severe for organizations that rely heavily on RSA Web Threat Detection for security monitoring, as the compromise of this system could provide attackers with a persistent foothold in the network infrastructure. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning, as compromised credentials could be used to further explore and exploit the network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4627 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to version 4.6.1.1 or later, which addresses the underlying SQL injection vulnerabilities through proper input validation and parameterization techniques. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including the use of prepared statements and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks at the application level. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the scope of potential exploitation, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the threat detection system. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database query patterns or unauthorized access attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader application ecosystem. The remediation approach should follow the principle of least privilege, ensuring that database accounts used by the application have minimal necessary permissions. Additionally, organizations should implement proper logging and audit trails to track all database interactions and user activities, enabling forensic analysis in case of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of timely patch management and proper application security development practices in preventing database-related attacks that can compromise entire security infrastructures.