CVE-2016-2034 in Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in ClearPass Policy Manager 6.5.x through 6.5.6 and 6.6.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2019
The SQL injection vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2034 affects ClearPass Policy Manager versions 6.5.x through 6.5.6 and 6.6.0, representing a critical security flaw that allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands within the affected system. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's database interaction layers, specifically impacting the authentication and authorization mechanisms that rely on user-supplied parameters to query backend databases. The flaw manifests when user input is directly incorporated into SQL query strings without proper escaping or parameterization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database operations and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted inputs that bypass normal validation procedures, enabling attackers to inject malicious SQL code into database queries. When the application processes these inputs, the malformed SQL commands are executed with the privileges of the database user account, potentially allowing full database access, data extraction, modification, or deletion. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk weakness in the Common Weakness Enumeration taxonomy due to its potential for severe impact across multiple system components. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that ClearPass Policy Manager operates as a network access control solution, meaning successful exploitation could compromise network security policies and provide attackers with elevated privileges within the network infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on ClearPass Policy Manager for network access control and policy enforcement. Attackers exploiting this flaw could potentially extract sensitive authentication credentials, network access policies, user information, and other confidential data stored within the database. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to modify network access controls, create backdoor accounts, or disrupt network services entirely. The vulnerability's presence in both 6.5.x and 6.6.0 versions indicates a persistent flaw in the application's input handling mechanisms that required multiple releases to address, highlighting the importance of proper code review and security testing in software development lifecycle processes. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable versions face potential compliance violations and security breaches that could affect regulatory adherence and customer trust.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2034 should prioritize immediate remediation through official vendor patches and updates, as the vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases of ClearPass Policy Manager. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected systems, while comprehensive input validation and parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application codebase. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, including unusual database query patterns and authentication failures. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Special Publication 800-160, which emphasize proper input validation, output encoding, and secure database interaction techniques. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in their network infrastructure and ensure comprehensive protection against SQL injection attacks across all systems and applications.