CVE-2016-3688 in dotCMS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in dotCMS before 3.5 allows remote administrators to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the c0-e3 parameter to dwr/call/plaincall/UserAjax.getUsersList.dwr.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3688 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the dotCMS content management platform prior to version 3.5. This vulnerability specifically affects the UserAjax.getUsersList.dwr endpoint which processes the c0-e3 parameter, creating an attack surface that allows remote administrative users to execute arbitrary SQL commands. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper parameter handling within the dynamic web remoting framework implementation, where user-supplied data directly influences database query construction without adequate sanitization or escaping mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the c0-e3 parameter in the dwr/call/plaincall/UserAjax.getUsersList.dwr endpoint, which serves as an interface for remote procedure calls within the dotCMS architecture. When an authenticated administrator accesses this endpoint with maliciously crafted input, the system fails to properly escape or validate the parameter content, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL syntax that gets executed against the underlying database. This vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary commands on the database server. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, data exfiltration, modification of user accounts, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, and the administrative privilege requirement suggests that the vulnerability could be leveraged by compromised administrator credentials or through privilege escalation attacks. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations relying on dotCMS for content management, particularly in environments where database access is not properly segmented.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3688 should prioritize immediate patching of affected dotCMS installations to version 3.5 or later, which includes proper input validation and parameter sanitization for the affected endpoint. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit administrative access to the affected system, while also establishing robust monitoring for unusual database query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, the implementation of web application firewalls and input validation rules specifically targeting SQL injection patterns can provide additional defense in depth. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all dotCMS installations and ensure that proper logging and alerting mechanisms are in place to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper security controls around dynamic web remoting frameworks that handle user input.