CVE-2017-11383 in Control Manager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL Injection in Trend Micro Control Manager 6.0 causes Remote Code Execution when executing opcode 0x1b07 due to lack of proper user input validation in cmdHandlerTVCSCommander.dll. Fomerly ZDI-CAN-4560.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2017-11383 represents a critical SQL injection flaw in Trend Micro Control Manager version 6.0 that can be exploited to achieve remote code execution. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes opcode 0x1b07 through the cmdHandlerTVCSCommander.dll component, making it particularly dangerous for networked environments where the control manager handles external communications. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL queries, creating an attack surface that adversaries can leverage for unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic SQL injection pattern where malicious input can manipulate the underlying database query execution flow. When opcode 0x1b07 is processed, the cmdHandlerTVCSCommander.dll component does not adequately validate or escape user-provided parameters, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL commands that can be executed within the context of the database engine. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The flaw's classification as a remote code execution vulnerability indicates that attackers can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring local system access or authentication credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11383 extends beyond simple data theft or corruption, as it enables full system compromise through remote code execution capabilities. Once exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary commands on the affected system, potentially gaining administrative privileges and establishing persistent access to the network infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments that rely on Trend Micro Control Manager for security policy enforcement and system monitoring, as the control manager often operates with elevated privileges necessary for system administration tasks. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can target vulnerable systems from anywhere on the internet, making this vulnerability particularly attractive for automated exploitation campaigns.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the control manager, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents an attack against publicly accessible services that can be exploited to gain initial access to target networks. Additional defensive measures should include input validation hardening, database query parameterization, and regular security assessments of networked applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other systems. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious SQL injection patterns in system logs to detect potential exploitation attempts.