CVE-2016-7400 in Exponent
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Exponent CMS before 2.4.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) id parameter in an activate_address address controller action, (2) title parameter in a show blog controller action, or (3) content_id parameter in a showComments expComment controller action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7400 represents a critical security flaw in Exponent CMS versions prior to 2.4.0, exposing multiple pathways for remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through carefully crafted input parameters. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog and is consistently ranked among the top ten web application security risks by OWASP. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects core controller actions within the content management system, providing adversaries with direct access to the underlying database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through three distinct attack vectors within the Exponent CMS architecture. The first vector involves the id parameter within the activate_address address controller action, where user-supplied input is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. The second vector targets the title parameter in the show blog controller action, while the third vector exploits the content_id parameter in the showComments expComment controller action. Each of these parameters demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation, where the application fails to properly escape or parameterize user-provided data before incorporating it into database queries. These attack vectors align with the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1213.002 for data from information repositories, as they exploit weaknesses in data handling within web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7400 is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over the database backend of affected Exponent CMS installations. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized data access, data modification, or complete database compromise, enabling attackers to exfiltrate sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configuration details. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or knowledge of internal network structures to exploit these flaws. The implications extend beyond simple data theft, as attackers could manipulate content, inject malicious code, or establish persistent backdoors within the CMS environment. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Exponent CMS for content management, as it undermines the integrity and confidentiality of their digital assets and user data.
Organizations affected by CVE-2016-7400 should immediately implement mitigation strategies focusing on input validation and parameterized queries. The primary remediation involves upgrading to Exponent CMS version 2.4.0 or later, which includes proper sanitization of user inputs and implementation of prepared statements for all database interactions. Security teams should also implement web application firewalls with SQL injection detection capabilities and conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, organizations should establish robust monitoring protocols to detect suspicious database access patterns and implement principle of least privilege for database accounts to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper input validation as fundamental security controls that align with NIST cybersecurity framework recommendations for protecting information systems.