CVE-2014-7176 in Tuleap
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Enalean Tuleap before 7.5.99.4 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the lobal_txt parameter to plugins/docman.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
The CVE-2014-7176 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in the Enalean Tuleap platform prior to version 7.5.99.4. This vulnerability specifically affects the document management plugin known as DocMan, which is a core component of the Tuleap collaborative development environment used by organizations for project management and document sharing. The flaw resides in how the application processes user input through the lobal_txt parameter, which is utilized within the plugin's functionality for handling global text fields in document management operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the DocMan plugin's backend processing logic. When authenticated users submit data through the lobal_txt parameter, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as SQL syntax by the underlying database engine. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that are then executed within the database context with the privileges of the application's database user. The vulnerability is classified as a remote authenticated SQL injection according to CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where attackers can manipulate database queries through untrusted input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potentially full database access capabilities. Successful exploitation could enable unauthorized users to extract sensitive information including user credentials, project data, source code repositories, and other confidential organizational materials. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers need valid login credentials to exploit the flaw, but this access requirement does not significantly mitigate the risk since legitimate users with compromised accounts or attackers who have obtained valid credentials can leverage this vulnerability. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts as a means of gaining access, and T1046 which covers network service scanning that could lead to identifying vulnerable systems.
Organizations utilizing Enalean Tuleap before version 7.5.99.4 face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where the platform hosts sensitive project documentation or where users have elevated privileges. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated using existing penetration testing frameworks, making it attractive to both malicious actors and security researchers. The risk is compounded by the fact that many organizations may not immediately patch their Tuleap installations, especially in environments where updates require extensive testing or where the platform is deeply integrated into existing workflows. Security teams should prioritize this vulnerability for remediation as it represents a direct path to database compromise that can lead to broader system infiltration and data exfiltration activities.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of the patched version 7.5.99.4 or later, which includes proper input validation and parameterized query implementations to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, conduct regular security assessments of their Tuleap installations, and maintain comprehensive monitoring of database activities for signs of unauthorized access attempts. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls can further reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation by limiting the scope of damage that could occur if the vulnerability is compromised. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping collaborative development platforms updated and properly configured to prevent attackers from leveraging authentication bypasses or input validation flaws that can lead to complete system compromise.