CVE-2016-8902 in dotCMS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the categoriesServlet servlet in dotCMS before 3.3.1 allows remote not authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the sort parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2022
The CVE-2016-8902 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the dotCMS content management system that existed prior to version 3.3.1. This vulnerability specifically affects the categoriesServlet servlet component, which serves as a backend interface for handling category-related operations within the cms framework. The flaw manifests through improper input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted http requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the sort parameter within the categoriesServlet receives unvalidated input from remote attackers who are not required to authenticate to the system. This parameter is processed directly within sql query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization, allowing attackers to inject malicious sql code that gets executed within the context of the database connection. The vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category of CWE-89 sql injection, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws in the industry.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations using affected dotCMS versions as it enables remote code execution capabilities without authentication requirements. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive data from the database, modify content, escalate privileges, or potentially compromise the entire cms infrastructure. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the vulnerability could allow for complete system compromise through database manipulation and potential lateral movement within the network environment. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with attack techniques documented in the mitre att&ck framework under the execution and credential access domains.
The exploitation of CVE-2016-8902 demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation gaps can lead to catastrophic security consequences in web applications. Organizations running vulnerable dotCMS versions face immediate risk of unauthorized access to their content management systems, potentially exposing sensitive corporate data, user information, and intellectual property. The vulnerability's classification as a remote unauthenticated attack means that protection requires network-level defenses rather than just application-level controls. Security teams should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious sql query patterns and ensure all dotCMS installations are updated to version 3.3.1 or later to remediate this critical flaw. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide temporary mitigation while full patching occurs. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs to identify and remediate such critical flaws before they can be exploited in the wild.