CVE-2016-8928 in Kenexa LMS on Cloud
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Kenexa LMS on Cloud is vulnerable to SQL injection. A remote attacker could send specially-crafted SQL statements, which could allow the attacker to view, add, modify or delete information in the back-end database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2020
IBM Kenexa Learning Management System on Cloud presents a critical SQL injection vulnerability that fundamentally compromises database security through improper input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability exists within the web application layer where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL query constructions without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate database operations by injecting malicious SQL code through input fields, authentication mechanisms, or API endpoints that process user data. The vulnerability specifically affects the cloud-hosted version of the platform, making it accessible to attackers who can exploit it from external networks without requiring physical access to the system infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations with potentially elevated privileges. Through careful crafting of malicious input sequences, an attacker can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive information from database tables, modify existing records, or even delete critical data. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can facilitate privilege escalation attacks where attackers gain administrative access to the database layer. The injection points likely occur in parameters used for user authentication, search functionality, or data retrieval operations that directly influence SQL query construction. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications and represents one of the most persistent and dangerous categories of web application vulnerabilities.
Operational implications of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, affecting both data integrity and system availability. Organizations utilizing IBM Kenexa LMS on Cloud face potential exposure of sensitive employee training records, learning progress data, assessment results, and personal information stored within the database. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly, allowing attackers to maintain access and continue data exfiltration over extended periods. System administrators must consider that successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, potentially leading to service disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and significant financial losses. The cloud-based nature of the platform increases risk exposure as attackers can leverage the public internet to target the system without requiring network proximity or specialized access methods.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation, parameterized queries, and proper database access controls to prevent unauthorized data manipulation. Organizations must ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized and that database connections utilize prepared statements or parameterized queries to eliminate direct SQL string concatenation. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block malicious SQL injection attempts. Regular security assessments, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing, should be conducted to identify additional vulnerabilities within the application stack. Database access should be restricted to least-privilege principles, with separate accounts for different application functions and comprehensive logging of database activities. System administrators should also implement proper monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect unusual database access patterns or unauthorized data modifications that may indicate successful exploitation attempts. These measures align with ATT&CK technique T1190 which focuses on exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications and emphasize the critical importance of defensive programming practices and comprehensive security controls in protecting enterprise systems from persistent threats.