CVE-2016-10096 in GeniXCMS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in register.php in GeniXCMS before 1.0.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the activation parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10096 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the GeniXCMS content management system prior to version 1.0.0. This vulnerability specifically affects the register.php script where the activation parameter is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. The flaw resides in the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql queries, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a severe security weakness that allows attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands on the database server.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing sql code within the activation parameter of the register.php endpoint. When the application processes this parameter without proper sanitization, the sql injection occurs at the database level where the attacker's malicious commands are executed with the privileges of the database user account. This can result in complete database compromise including data exfiltration, data modification, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potentially full system compromise depending on the database user permissions. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input handling practices and lacks proper parameterized queries or prepared statements that would normally prevent such injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft as it provides attackers with persistent access to the cms database and potentially the underlying system. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, create backdoor accounts, modify user permissions, or even deploy malicious code within the application environment. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications. This vulnerability directly aligns with attack techniques documented in the attack pattern taxonomy under the category of sql injection attacks that are commonly used to gain unauthorized access to database systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10096 should focus on immediate patching of the GeniXCMS application to version 1.0.0 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization techniques including the use of parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced where database accounts used by the application have minimal required permissions. Network level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security frameworks that emphasize proper input validation and output encoding to prevent injection attacks.