CVE-2017-12227 in Emergency Responder
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the SQL database interface for Cisco Emergency Responder could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct a blind SQL injection attack. The vulnerability is due to a failure to validate user-supplied input used in SQL queries that bypass protection filters. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted URLs that include SQL statements. An exploit could allow the attacker to view or modify entries in some database tables, affecting the integrity of the data. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvb58973.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12227 resides within the SQL database interface of Cisco Emergency Responder, a critical component designed to manage emergency response communications and data. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that could be exploited by authenticated remote attackers to perform blind SQL injection attacks against the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's handling of user-supplied input within SQL queries, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database operations without direct access to the underlying database structure. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or filter user-provided data before incorporating it into database queries, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code through crafted requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URLs sent to the affected Cisco Emergency Responder system. When an authenticated attacker crafts specific URLs containing SQL injection payloads, the system processes these inputs without proper validation, enabling the execution of unauthorized database operations. This blind SQL injection capability allows attackers to indirectly infer database structure and contents by observing application behavior rather than direct data retrieval. The vulnerability specifically impacts the integrity of database entries, potentially enabling attackers to modify or delete critical emergency response data, which could severely compromise the system's reliability and the safety of emergency communications. The lack of proper input validation creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the vulnerable software remains operational, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on emergency response systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12227 extends beyond simple data integrity concerns to potentially compromise the entire emergency response infrastructure. Organizations using Cisco Emergency Responder face risks of data manipulation that could affect emergency call routing, responder assignments, or critical communication logs, potentially leading to delayed or failed emergency responses. The vulnerability's authenticated nature means that attackers must first establish valid credentials, but this requirement does not significantly reduce the threat level given that credential compromise is a common attack vector. The implications align with CWE-89, which classifies SQL injection vulnerabilities as critical weaknesses in application security, and the attack pattern maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. Organizations may experience service disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences if emergency response data becomes compromised, as the integrity of emergency communications is paramount to public safety.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12227 require immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization measures across all user-facing interfaces within the Cisco Emergency Responder system. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks, ensuring that user-supplied data cannot be interpreted as SQL commands. The implementation of web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can provide additional protection layers, while regular security audits should verify that all database interfaces properly validate and sanitize inputs. Cisco has addressed this vulnerability through software updates and patches, making it essential for organizations to apply these fixes promptly and conduct thorough testing to ensure compatibility with existing emergency response workflows. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure, and regular credential rotation practices should be enforced to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that security measures do not interfere with the critical emergency response functionality, maintaining system availability while addressing the identified vulnerability.