CVE-2014-5262 in Cacti
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the graph settings script (graph_settings.php) in Cacti 0.8.8b and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2022
The CVE-2014-5262 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw discovered in the cacti network monitoring platform version 0.8.8b and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the graph_settings.php script which handles graph configuration parameters within the cacti web interface. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious sql commands through unspecified input vectors, potentially enabling full database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters that are directly incorporated into sql query constructions without proper escaping or parameterization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker manipulates input parameters passed to the graph_settings.php script, which then processes these parameters without adequate security controls. This lack of input sanitization creates an environment where malicious sql payloads can be executed within the database context, potentially allowing attackers to extract, modify, or delete sensitive information stored in the cacti database. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, create backdoors, or even compromise the entire monitoring infrastructure. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests multiple potential entry points within the parameter handling logic that could be exploited through various web interface interactions.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on cacti for network monitoring and performance tracking. The compromise of cacti systems can lead to complete loss of network visibility, unauthorized access to monitoring data, and potential disruption of critical infrastructure monitoring capabilities. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain access to detailed network performance metrics, system configurations, and other sensitive monitoring data that would otherwise be protected within the cacti environment. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or system to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such monitoring systems are often exposed to external networks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to cacti version 0.8.8c or later, which contains patches addressing this vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the cacti web interface to untrusted networks. Input validation measures and web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and filter potentially malicious requests targeting the affected script. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running vulnerable versions of cacti and ensure proper patch management processes are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 sql injection weakness category and represents a typical attack pattern that could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 application layer protocol and T1190 exploitative remote code execution, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches to protect monitoring infrastructure from such critical vulnerabilities.