CVE-2017-12364 in Prime Service Catalog
Summary
by MITRE
A SQL Injection vulnerability in the web framework of Cisco Prime Service Catalog could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute unauthorized Structured Query Language (SQL) queries. The vulnerability is due to a failure to validate user-supplied input that is used in SQL queries. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted SQL statement to an affected system. Successful exploitation could allow the attacker to read entries in some database tables. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg30333.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-12364 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Cisco Prime Service Catalog's web framework, categorized under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities. This weakness stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The vulnerability affects Cisco Prime Service Catalog versions prior to 11.0 and represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture where user-controllable parameters are directly concatenated into SQL statements without proper escaping or parameterization. The flaw exists in the web application layer where the system processes user requests containing potentially malicious SQL payloads that bypass normal input sanitization procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exfiltration as it creates a persistent threat vector for unauthorized database access. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious SQL statements that manipulate the underlying database queries to extract sensitive information from database tables. The vulnerability specifically allows attackers to read entries from certain database tables, which could include user credentials, system configurations, service catalog data, and other sensitive operational information. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK technique T1071.005 for application layer protocol and T1213.002 for data from information repositories, demonstrating how attackers can leverage web application flaws to access enterprise data stores. The vulnerability's remote nature eliminates the need for physical access or network-level privileges, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such systems are often exposed to external networks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard web application attack vectors. Attackers typically craft malicious input parameters that when processed by the vulnerable web application, result in unintended SQL execution on the backend database server. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution risk through database manipulation means that successful exploitation could lead to further compromise of the underlying system infrastructure. Organizations running affected versions of Cisco Prime Service Catalog face significant risk of data breaches, especially in environments where the system contains sensitive business or customer information. The vulnerability's presence in the web framework indicates a systemic security issue that affects the entire application's data handling procedures and highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and parameterized query execution mechanisms. Security teams should implement immediate mitigations including patching affected systems, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts.
Cisco addressed this vulnerability through software updates that introduced proper input validation mechanisms and improved query parameterization techniques. The fix typically involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent user input from being interpreted as SQL commands. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit access to the affected system, implement monitoring for suspicious database query patterns, and conduct regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the need for continuous security testing throughout the software development lifecycle. Additionally, organizations should maintain up-to-date vulnerability management processes that include rapid deployment of security patches and comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.