CVE-2016-7784 in Exponent
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the getSection function in framework/core/subsystems/expRouter.php in Exponent CMS 2.3.9 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the section parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7784 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Exponent CMS 2.3.9 and earlier versions, specifically affecting the getSection function located in the framework/core/subsystems/expRouter.php file. This vulnerability exposes the content management system to remote code execution attacks through improper input validation mechanisms that fail to sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input through the section parameter, which is then processed by the getSection function without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The flaw resides in the application's failure to implement proper input validation and output encoding practices, allowing malicious SQL payloads to be injected directly into the database query execution chain. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a severe weakness in application security where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as remote attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database content, create new user accounts with elevated privileges, or even gain full administrative control over the CMS installation. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire content management system, potentially compromising all website content, user credentials, and associated data stored within the database infrastructure.
Organizations utilizing Exponent CMS versions prior to 2.3.10 should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patch, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious SQL patterns, and conducting thorough security assessments of their database access controls. The remediation strategy should also encompass input validation improvements and parameterized query implementations to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1190 for exploit public-facing application, emphasizing the need for comprehensive network security controls and regular vulnerability assessment procedures to prevent exploitation attempts.