CVE-2014-5114 in WeBid
Summary
by MITRE
WeBid 1.1.1 allows remote attackers to conduct an LDAP injection attack via the (1) js or (2) cat parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5114 affects WeBid version 1.1.1 and represents a critical LDAP injection flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate LDAP queries through specifically crafted inputs. This vulnerability exists within the application's handling of user-supplied data in two distinct parameter fields identified as js and cat. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter special LDAP metacharacters and operators, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary LDAP query components. LDAP injection attacks exploit the underlying directory service architecture by manipulating the search filters used to query directory information, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive directory data or bypassing authentication mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes user input through the js or cat parameters without adequate sanitization before incorporating these values into LDAP search operations. Attackers can leverage this weakness by injecting LDAP special characters such as parentheses, asterisks, and comparison operators directly into the parameter values. When the application constructs LDAP queries using these unsanitized inputs, the injected components become part of the actual query structure, potentially altering the intended search scope or injecting additional search criteria. This manipulation can result in unauthorized data retrieval, privilege escalation, or complete bypass of authentication controls depending on how the LDAP queries are constructed and executed within the application context.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5114 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to directory services that may contain sensitive user credentials, organizational information, or authentication tokens. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in environments where directory services are used for authentication and authorization. Depending on the LDAP server configuration and the privileges associated with the application's directory binding account, successful exploitation could lead to full compromise of directory services, enabling attackers to enumerate users, access protected resources, or even modify directory entries. The vulnerability also poses risks to the broader network infrastructure as directory services often serve as central authentication points for multiple systems and applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data before processing LDAP queries, particularly focusing on the js and cat parameters. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects or escapes special LDAP characters, utilizing LDAP libraries that provide built-in escaping mechanisms, and ensuring that application code properly handles user input through parameterized queries or prepared statements. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to LDAP services and ensure that the application's directory binding account operates with the minimum necessary privileges. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-91 and CWE-90 categories related to improper neutralization of special elements used in XML, SQL, and LDAP injection attacks, and corresponds to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access through directory service manipulation and privilege escalation via injection attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications that interact with directory services, as this represents a common pattern in web application security flaws.