CVE-2014-9450 in Zabbix
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in chart_bar.php in the frontend in Zabbix before 1.8.22, 2.0.x before 2.0.14, and 2.2.x before 2.2.8 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) itemid or (2) periods parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9450 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting the Zabbix monitoring platform across multiple version ranges. This vulnerability resides in the chart_bar.php file within the frontend component of Zabbix, specifically impacting versions prior to 1.8.22, 2.0.14, and 2.2.8. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through two distinct parameter injection points, making it particularly dangerous for systems that rely on Zabbix for network and system monitoring. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the improper handling of user-supplied input within the chart_bar.php script. Attackers can manipulate the itemid and periods parameters to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed within the database context. When these parameters are processed without adequate sanitization or parameterized queries, the system becomes vulnerable to unauthorized database access. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets the frontend interface, meaning that an attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability without requiring authentication or direct system access. This makes the vulnerability highly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise monitoring infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9450 extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables complete database compromise and potential lateral movement within the network. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive monitoring data, including system configurations, network topology information, and potentially credentials stored within the Zabbix database. The implications are particularly severe for organizations that rely heavily on Zabbix for security monitoring, as this vulnerability could allow attackers to hide their presence while exfiltrating critical information. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1046 for network service discovery, as it enables both data exfiltration and reconnaissance activities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official Zabbix patches and version updates. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries in all frontend components, as well as network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security teams should also implement database activity monitoring to detect unusual SQL query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date monitoring systems and implementing proper code review processes to prevent injection flaws in web applications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to provide additional layers of protection against similar attack vectors.