CVE-2014-5440 in Mx-smartimer
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Login.aspx in MPEX Business Solutions MX-SmartTimer before 13.19.18 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the ct100%24CPHContent%24password parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5440 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the MPEX Business Solutions MX-SmartTimer application version 13.19.18 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the Login.aspx page, which serves as the primary authentication interface for the system. The flaw manifests through improper input validation of the ct100%24CPHContent%24password parameter, which is part of the web forms postback mechanism used by the application's user interface components. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious sql commands directly through the password field during the login process, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure underlying the smart timer application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits crafted sql payload through the vulnerable parameter, bypassing normal authentication mechanisms and gaining unauthorized access to the database. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 classification as a direct sql injection attack, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the authentication process itself, meaning that successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise including user credentials, operational data, and potentially system-level access. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate sql query construction methods that fail to distinguish between legitimate user input and malicious sql commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it could enable attackers to manipulate or destroy critical business data within the smart timer system. Given that MX-SmartTimer is designed for business operations, the compromise of this system could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive business information, disruption of time tracking processes, and potential financial losses. The vulnerability affects the core authentication functionality of the application, which means that any successful exploitation would provide attackers with immediate access to the system's database, potentially enabling them to escalate privileges, modify user accounts, or extract confidential business data. This type of attack aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications, specifically targeting the authentication and session management components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected application to version 13.19.18 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. The implementation of web application firewalls and sql injection detection systems can provide additional layers of protection. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual login patterns and sql injection attempts, while regular security assessments of web applications should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the damage that could result from successful exploitation, ensuring that database accounts used by the application have minimal required permissions rather than administrative privileges.