CVE-2017-12585 in SLiMS 8 Akasia
Summary
by MITRE
SLiMS 8 Akasia through 8.3.1 has SQL injection in admin/AJAX_lookup_handler.php (tableName and tableFields parameters), admin/AJAX_check_id.php, and admin/AJAX_vocabolary_control.php. It can be exploited by remote authenticated librarian users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2017-12585 represents a critical sql injection flaw in SLiMS 8 Akasia versions through 8.3.1 that affects multiple administrative ajax handler scripts. This vulnerability resides in the admin/AJAX_lookup_handler.php endpoint where the tableName and tableFields parameters are directly incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. Additionally, the admin/AJAX_check_id.php and admin/AJAX_vocabolary_control.php scripts contain similar injection points that can be exploited by authenticated users with librarian privileges. The flaw falls under CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection vulnerabilities as a result of improper input validation and handling of user-supplied data within database queries. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that any user with librarian credentials can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary sql commands against the database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows authenticated librarian users to perform unauthorized database operations including but not limited to data extraction, modification, or deletion. Attackers could potentially escalate their privileges, access sensitive bibliographic data, or even compromise the entire database system. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation where user-controllable parameters are directly concatenated into sql statements. This creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the intended query execution flow through malicious input sequences designed to alter the sql command structure. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that multiple endpoints are affected, increasing the probability of successful exploitation and providing multiple avenues for attackers to achieve their objectives.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework where it maps to the privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious payloads that can bypass authentication checks while maintaining the authenticated session to execute sql injection attacks. The vulnerability represents a failure in secure coding practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation, parameterized queries, and principle of least privilege access controls. Organizations should immediately implement patches or mitigations addressing the sql injection flaws in these specific ajax handler files. The recommended approach includes implementing proper input sanitization, using prepared statements with parameterized queries, and conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar patterns throughout the application. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of suspicious database access patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of validating all user inputs and implementing robust security measures in web applications that handle sensitive data, particularly in library management systems that often contain confidential information about patrons and collections.