CVE-2017-11445 in Subrion CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Subrion CMS before 4.1.6 has a SQL injection vulnerability in /front/actions.php via the $_POST array.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11445 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Subrion CMS versions prior to 4.1.6, specifically affecting the /front/actions.php script. This vulnerability exposes the content management system to unauthorized database access through improper input validation mechanisms. The flaw manifests when the application processes user-supplied data from the $_POST array without adequate sanitization or parameterization, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands directly into the database query execution flow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or parameterize user input received through HTTP POST requests. When malicious actors submit crafted payloads through the actions.php endpoint, the CMS processes these inputs directly within SQL queries without sufficient validation or sanitization measures. This design flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization techniques. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer where database credentials and access controls are typically managed, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary database commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable complete database compromise and potentially full system takeover. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and administrative access details stored within the CMS database. The attack surface is further expanded as successful exploitation can lead to privilege escalation, data manipulation, and persistence mechanisms within the compromised system. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the T1071.005 technique for application layer protocol usage and the T1046 technique for network service scanning, as attackers would need to identify and target the vulnerable endpoint before executing their payload.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11445 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch for Subrion CMS version 4.1.6, which addresses the input validation issues in the actions.php script. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms including parameterized queries, prepared statements, and proper data sanitization before any user input is processed within database operations. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack. The remediation process must also include monitoring for any signs of exploitation attempts and ensuring that all database access controls are properly configured with least privilege principles to minimize potential damage from successful attacks.