CVE-2015-1372 in ferretCMS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in ferretCMS 1.0.4-alpha allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the p parameter in an update action to admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The CVE-2015-1372 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within ferretCMS version 1.0.4-alpha that exposes the content management system to remote exploitation. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface of the platform, where the p parameter in the update action of admin.php fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into sql query constructions. The flaw falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection vulnerabilities as a direct result of insufficient input validation and improper sql query construction practices. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to manipulate the underlying database through crafted malicious input that bypasses normal authentication and authorization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends a specially crafted request to the admin.php endpoint with the p parameter containing malicious sql code. The application processes this input without adequate sanitization or parameterization, allowing the attacker to inject arbitrary sql commands that execute with the privileges of the database user account. This creates a pathway for full database compromise, enabling attackers to read, modify, or delete sensitive information including user credentials, content management data, and potentially system configuration details. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative context of the application, providing attackers with elevated privileges and access to critical system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within affected networks. Successful exploitation can result in persistent backdoor access, data exfiltration, and the ability to manipulate content management workflows that may affect website availability and integrity. From an att&ck framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique t1190 exploitation for client execution and t1071.004 application layer protocol network protocol deception, as attackers can use the administrative interface to establish covert communication channels. The vulnerability also aligns with privilege escalation tactics since it allows attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and operate with administrative privileges.
Organizations utilizing ferretCMS 1.0.4-alpha should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and comprehensive code review processes to address this vulnerability. The most effective remediation involves proper sanitization of all user inputs, particularly those used in database operations, and implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of administrative interfaces to trusted networks only. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all web applications to identify similar input validation flaws, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper sql query construction practices. The incident highlights the necessity of following secure coding guidelines and implementing automated security testing as part of the development lifecycle to prevent such vulnerabilities from reaching production environments.