CVE-2017-1000067 in Revolution
Summary
by MITRE
MODX Revolution version 2.x - 2.5.6 is vulnerable to blind SQL injection caused by improper sanitization by the escape method resulting in authenticated user accessing database and possibly escalating privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-1000067 affects MODX Revolution versions 2.x through 2.5.6 and represents a critical blind sql injection flaw that exploits improper input sanitization within the escape method implementation. This vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who can leverage the flawed sanitization routine to manipulate database queries, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information and escalating their privileges within the affected system. The issue stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of user-supplied input that flows into database operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary sql commands through carefully crafted payloads that bypass standard security measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users submit malicious input through application interfaces that are subsequently processed by the vulnerable escape method. This method fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into sql queries, allowing attackers to inject sql fragments that can manipulate the database behavior without immediate detection. The blind nature of this injection means that attackers must rely on indirect methods to determine successful exploitation, typically through time-based or boolean-based techniques that infer database state through response variations. The vulnerability manifests in scenarios where user input is processed through the application's core database abstraction layer, where the escape method should provide adequate protection but instead creates a persistent security gap.
Operational impact of CVE-2017-1000067 extends beyond simple data access to include potential privilege escalation and system compromise. An authenticated attacker with access to the application can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive data including user credentials, system configurations, and application logic. The ability to escalate privileges through sql injection attacks creates a severe risk profile as attackers can potentially elevate their access level to administrative privileges, gaining control over the entire MODX installation. This vulnerability particularly affects content management systems where user roles and permissions are managed through database queries, making the impact more severe as attackers can manipulate access controls and potentially gain persistent access to the system.
Security mitigations for CVE-2017-1000067 should focus on immediate patching of affected MODX versions to 2.5.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the escape method sanitization routine. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices, ensuring all user-supplied data is properly escaped before database insertion. The remediation process must include thorough code review of database interaction methods to identify similar sanitization flaws that could exist elsewhere in the application. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of defense, while regular security testing including sql injection scanning should be conducted to detect similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 sql injection and follows ATT&CK technique T1071.004 application layer protocol evasion, highlighting the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in preventing such persistent security flaws that can compromise entire system architectures.