CVE-2017-10839 in Seo Panel
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the SEO Panel prior to version 3.11.0 allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2019
The CVE-2017-10839 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw discovered in seo panel software prior to version 3.11.0. This vulnerability specifically affects authenticated users who possess valid credentials within the seo panel application, creating a significant security risk that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands on the underlying database system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's sql query construction processes, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into database queries without proper escaping or parameterization. The authenticated nature of this vulnerability means that an attacker must first obtain legitimate user credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this privilege to escalate their access and potentially gain complete control over the database operations. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability could be exploited through multiple entry points within the seo panel application, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can identify various attack surfaces to target. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category of cwe-89 sql injection, which is classified as a high severity weakness in the owasp top ten security risks. The attack pattern aligns with techniques described in the mitre attack framework under the execution and privilege escalation domains, where attackers can leverage authenticated access to perform unauthorized database operations. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers could potentially modify or delete critical database records, execute administrative commands, or even establish persistent backdoors within the application infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2017-10839 requires an authenticated user context, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to unauthenticated vulnerabilities but still presents a severe risk to organizations relying on the seo panel application. Attackers can craft malicious sql payloads that bypass the application's input validation mechanisms, allowing them to inject arbitrary sql commands that execute with the privileges of the authenticated user account. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple vectors within the application suggests that the developers failed to implement consistent input sanitization across all data handling components. This weakness creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate various application functions including user management, content modification, and system configuration settings. The sql injection attack can be executed through parameter manipulation in http requests, form submissions, or api calls depending on how the vulnerable functions are implemented. The authenticated nature means that attackers do not need to perform extensive reconnaissance to gain initial access, but they must first acquire valid credentials through phishing, credential theft, or other social engineering techniques. The vulnerability represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where the application does not properly enforce access controls to limit the scope of operations that authenticated users can perform. Organizations using affected versions of seo panel face potential data breaches, system compromise, and regulatory compliance violations that could result in significant financial and reputational damage.
Organizations affected by CVE-2017-10839 must implement immediate remediation measures to protect their systems from potential exploitation. The primary mitigation strategy involves upgrading to seo panel version 3.11.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the sql injection vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional security controls including web application firewalls, input validation mechanisms, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. Database access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure that application accounts have minimal necessary privileges and that audit logging is enabled to monitor suspicious activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, particularly in applications handling user data and database interactions. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and code reviews to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their software inventory. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust vulnerability management processes that can quickly identify and address security flaws. Security teams should also establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle sql injection attacks and ensure that all application developers receive training on secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software releases. Regular security awareness training for users can help prevent credential theft and other initial access vectors that attackers might exploit to reach this vulnerability.