CVE-2017-18290 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 sort_direction parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18290 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within PvPGN Stats version 2.4.6, a web application designed to track and display gaming statistics for players within the PvPGN (Player vs Player Network) gaming environment. This vulnerability specifically affects the ladder/stats.php endpoint, which serves as the primary interface for accessing gaming leaderboards and statistical data. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors seeking to manipulate the underlying database queries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of the GET sort_direction parameter within the ladder/stats.php script. When users access the statistics page with a sort_direction parameter, the application directly incorporates this user input into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This design flaw allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code through the sort_direction parameter, potentially enabling unauthorized database access, data manipulation, or complete database compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive player information, gaming statistics, and potentially user credentials stored within the PvPGN database. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to extract confidential information, modify game rankings, or even escalate privileges within the system. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that PvPGN networks typically serve competitive gaming environments where statistical integrity is paramount, making this vulnerability a significant threat to gaming communities and their data security. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which covers application layer protocol manipulation, as the attack exploits the web application's handling of HTTP GET parameters.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18290 should prioritize immediate implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements within the ladder/stats.php script to prevent direct SQL injection. Input validation should be enforced to restrict the sort_direction parameter to predefined acceptable values such as 'asc' or 'desc' only, while all user-supplied data must undergo proper sanitization before database interaction. System administrators should also implement web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious HTTP requests targeting the affected endpoint. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the PvPGN ecosystem, and the application should be updated to a patched version that addresses this specific SQL injection weakness. Organizations using PvPGN Stats should also consider implementing database access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized database activities that might result from exploitation attempts.