CVE-2017-15875 in GPWeb
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Password Recovery in GPWeb 8.4.61 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the "checkemail" parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15875 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the password recovery functionality of gpweb version 8.4.61. This issue resides in the "checkemail" parameter handling mechanism which fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into database queries. The weakness creates an avenue for remote attackers to manipulate the underlying sql infrastructure through crafted malicious input sequences that bypass normal validation controls.
This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly incorporated into sql commands without proper escaping or parameterization. The attack vector leverages the password recovery module which typically accepts email addresses as input to verify account existence and initiate reset procedures. When an attacker submits malicious sql payloads through the checkemail parameter, the application processes these inputs without adequate input validation or sanitization, allowing the sql commands to be executed with the privileges of the database user account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification. Remote attackers can potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive user account information including email addresses, account identifiers, and potentially other database records depending on the database user permissions. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform read operations on the entire database, execute data modification commands, or even escalate privileges to system-level access depending on the database configuration and the application's database connection privileges. This represents a severe compromise of the application's security model and user privacy protection mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15875 should prioritize immediate implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks. The application code must be updated to validate and sanitize all user inputs through proper input filtering mechanisms before any database operations occur. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege management ensures that database connections use minimal required permissions. Security measures should include input length validation, character set restrictions, and comprehensive logging of suspicious activities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and maintaining up-to-date security patches as outlined in the mitre ATT&CK framework's command and control techniques where such vulnerabilities enable persistent access and data exfiltration capabilities for threat actors.