CVE-2016-4351 in Encryption Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the authentication functionality in Trend Micro Email Encryption Gateway (TMEEG) 5.5 before build 1107 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4351 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the authentication subsystem of Trend Micro Email Encryption Gateway version 5.5 prior to build 1107. This weakness resides in the email encryption gateway's authentication mechanism, which processes user credentials and session management data. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands directly into the database query execution flow, potentially compromising the entire email encryption infrastructure. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack surface encompasses multiple entry points within the authentication process, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various communication channels or interface methods.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the TMEEG authentication modules. When users attempt to authenticate, their input data flows directly into SQL queries without proper parameterization or escaping mechanisms. This design flaw enables attackers to manipulate the intended query execution path by injecting malicious SQL syntax that gets executed with the privileges of the database user account. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to complete database compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2016-4351 could result in unauthorized access to encrypted email communications, user credential theft, and potential data exfiltration from the email encryption gateway database. Attackers could gain access to sensitive email content, user authentication information, and potentially escalate privileges to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. The email encryption gateway serves as a critical security component in enterprise environments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could undermine the confidentiality and integrity of email communications across organizations. The attack could lead to significant regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and reputational damage for affected enterprises.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for build 1107 or higher, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block SQL injection attempts, and conducting thorough input validation reviews of all authentication components. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit access to the email encryption gateway, implement monitoring for unusual database query patterns, and establish comprehensive incident response procedures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices such as parameterized queries and input sanitization, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1190 for SQL injection and T1071 for application layer protocol usage. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise security appliances and applications to prevent similar exploitation scenarios.