CVE-2017-11559 in ManageEngine OpManager
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in ZOHO ManageEngine OpManager 12.2. The 'apiKey' parameter of "/api/json/admin/getmailserversettings" and "/api/json/dashboard/gotoverviewlist" is vulnerable to a Blind SQL Injection attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11559 affects ZOHO ManageEngine OpManager version 12.2, presenting a critical security flaw that enables attackers to perform blind SQL injection attacks against the application's API endpoints. This vulnerability specifically targets the 'apiKey' parameter within two distinct API interfaces: '/api/json/admin/getmailserversettings' and '/api/json/dashboard/gotoverviewlist'. The flaw arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the API requests and potentially extract sensitive database information through indirect means.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate the 'apiKey' parameter before processing it within database queries. When an attacker submits a malformed API key containing SQL payload characters, the system processes this input without adequate sanitization, creating an environment where SQL injection can occur. The blind nature of this attack means that the attacker cannot directly observe database query results through standard output mechanisms but must instead infer information through indirect methods such as response timing variations, conditional responses, or error message analysis. This approach requires more sophisticated exploitation techniques but remains highly effective for data exfiltration and system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potential pathways to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the underlying system infrastructure. Successful exploitation could enable unauthorized users to access sensitive configuration data, user credentials, system logs, and other confidential information stored within the OpManager database. The vulnerability affects organizations using ManageEngine OpManager for network monitoring and management, potentially compromising their entire monitoring infrastructure and exposing critical network assets to unauthorized access. Attackers could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access, conduct further reconnaissance, or use the compromised system as a pivot point for attacking other network segments.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with applying the vendor's official security patches and updates as soon as they become available. Network segmentation and API access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of vulnerable endpoints, while implementing robust input validation and parameterized queries can prevent similar issues in future deployments. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious API request patterns and unusual database access behaviors that may indicate exploitation attempts. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-89, representing SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack, ensuring comprehensive protection against evolving threat landscapes while maintaining compliance with industry security frameworks and regulatory requirements.