CVE-2017-18288 in PvPGN Stats
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in PvPGN Stats 2.4.6. SQL Injection exists in ladder/stats.php via the GET game parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18288 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within PvPGN Stats version 2.4.6, specifically affecting the ladder/stats.php component. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-provided data, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to manipulate database queries. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes the GET game parameter without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL code that can be executed within the database context. This flaw falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability due to its potential for unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a Database Injection technique under the T1566.001 sub-technique, highlighting the attack surface exploitation through database manipulation. The PvPGN Stats application serves as a statistics tracking system for multiplayer gaming environments, making it a potential target for adversaries seeking to compromise gaming data integrity and user information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious GET request containing SQL payload within the game parameter, which is then directly incorporated into database queries without proper parameterization or input filtering. The lack of proper input validation allows attackers to manipulate the SQL execution flow, potentially enabling them to extract sensitive information from the database, modify existing records, or even execute administrative commands on the underlying database system. This vulnerability specifically impacts the ladder and statistics functionality of the PvPGN system, which typically stores user rankings, game records, and performance metrics. The injection point in ladder/stats.php represents a critical component of the application's data retrieval mechanism, where user-provided game identifiers are processed to fetch relevant statistical information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated through various penetration testing tools, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the application is publicly accessible.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-18288 extends beyond immediate data compromise to encompass broader security implications for gaming communities and network infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive user data including account information, game statistics, and potentially personal identifiers stored within the database. The vulnerability also poses risks to data integrity, as malicious actors could modify game rankings, alter user statistics, or inject false data that could affect competitive gaming environments. Organizations running PvPGN Stats systems face potential reputational damage, regulatory compliance violations, and increased operational overhead from incident response activities. The vulnerability affects systems where the application is deployed in gaming environments, particularly those with public-facing web interfaces that expose the ladder/stats.php endpoint to unauthenticated users. The attack surface is particularly concerning in multi-user gaming platforms where the statistics system is frequently accessed, creating opportunities for persistent exploitation and data exfiltration. Security teams must consider the broader implications for network security, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with a foothold for further lateral movement within gaming infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18288 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. The most effective remediation involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions, ensuring that user input is properly escaped and treated as data rather than executable code. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and authentication mechanisms to limit exposure of vulnerable endpoints, particularly those related to game statistics and ladder data retrieval. Input sanitization should be implemented at multiple layers including application-level validation, web application firewalls, and database-level protections. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar injection points within the application codebase. The fix for this vulnerability requires code modification to ensure that the game parameter in ladder/stats.php is properly validated and sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. Security patches should be applied immediately, and the application should be updated to a version that addresses this specific SQL injection vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while incident response procedures should be established to handle potential compromise scenarios. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify unauthorized access patterns that may indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.