CVE-2016-10134 in Zabbix
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Zabbix before 2.2.14 and 3.0 before 3.0.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the toggle_ids array parameter in latest.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10134 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Zabbix monitoring solutions prior to specific patch versions. This vulnerability resides within the latest.php script and specifically targets the toggle_ids array parameter, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate database queries through improper input validation, potentially leading to complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within the toggle_ids parameter processing. When Zabbix processes the array parameter in latest.php, it fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. This allows malicious actors to inject crafted SQL payloads that bypass normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically affects Zabbix versions before 2.2.14 and 3.0.4, indicating that the developers had not yet implemented sufficient input validation measures to prevent such attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents severe risks to organizations relying on Zabbix for system monitoring and security operations. Attackers exploiting this flaw can potentially extract sensitive information including user credentials, system configurations, and monitored data from the database. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system or local network presence to exploit the vulnerability. This makes the attack surface particularly dangerous in environments where Zabbix servers are exposed to external networks or where network segmentation is inadequate.
The impact of successful exploitation aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as a fundamental weakness in application security. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation, where attackers leverage web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access. Organizations may experience data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in monitoring systems creates additional risks as attackers can potentially manipulate or destroy monitoring data, hindering incident response and security operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Zabbix installations to versions 2.2.14 or 3.0.4 and later. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to Zabbix servers, restrict database permissions for Zabbix user accounts, and monitor for suspicious database access patterns. Input validation should be strengthened across all web application interfaces, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts.