CVE-2015-4724 in concrete5
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Concrete5 5.7.3.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2019
The CVE-2015-4724 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in Concrete5 version 5.7.3.1, a popular open-source content management system. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of user input in specific database queries, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper parameterization of database queries, allowing attackers to manipulate the SQL execution flow through crafted malicious input. Concrete5, widely used for website content management, becomes particularly vulnerable when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into database operations without adequate sanitization measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Concrete5 processes user input through certain API endpoints or form submissions that interact with the database. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting specially crafted SQL commands within input fields or parameters that are then processed by the application's database layer. The vulnerability is classified as a classic SQL injection attack vector where the application fails to properly escape or parameterize user-provided data before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code that can be executed with the privileges of the database user account under which the Concrete5 application operates.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4724 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive user information, and potential system takeover. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential data including user credentials, personal information, and administrative details stored within the database. The attack surface is particularly concerning for organizations using Concrete5 for mission-critical websites, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication. Database administrators may face unauthorized data modification, deletion, or even complete database corruption depending on the privileges of the database account used by the Concrete5 application.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the official Concrete5 security patch releases, as the vendor issued updates specifically addressing this SQL injection flaw. The mitigation strategy should include not only applying the latest security patches but also implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential custom modules or extensions that might be similarly vulnerable to SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in application security, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web infrastructure.