CVE-2017-20131 in News Portal
Summary
by MITRE • 07/16/2022
A vulnerability was found in Itech News Portal 6.28. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the file /news-portal-script/information.php. The manipulation of the argument inf leads to sql injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20131 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Itech News Portal 6.28 content management system. This vulnerability specifically targets an unknown function within the information.php file, where the inf argument serves as the attack vector. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious sql commands against the underlying database system, potentially compromising the entire application infrastructure. The classification as critical severity indicates the potential for widespread damage and unauthorized access to sensitive data. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which defines sql injection as the insertion of malicious sql queries into input data that is then processed by an application's database layer. The remote exploitability aspect means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user input containing sql malicious code is passed through the inf parameter in the information.php file. The application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into sql queries, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the database structure. This type of injection attack can result in unauthorized data access, data modification, or complete database compromise. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious input that bypasses normal input validation mechanisms and executes arbitrary sql commands. The public disclosure of the exploit means that threat actors can readily implement this attack without requiring advanced technical skills, significantly increasing the risk to affected systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the use of sql injection to gain unauthorized access to database systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential data destruction. An attacker could extract sensitive user information, modify content, or even escalate privileges within the application. The news portal environment makes this particularly concerning as it likely contains user credentials, article content, and potentially administrative information. The remote nature of the attack means that organizations cannot rely solely on network segmentation or local access controls to protect against this threat. Organizations running Itech News Portal 6.28 should immediately assess their exposure to this vulnerability and implement mitigations to prevent unauthorized access. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper database query construction in preventing sql injection attacks. The public availability of the exploit increases the urgency for remediation, as automated scanning tools could quickly identify vulnerable systems and exploit them without human intervention. This vulnerability underscores the necessity of regular security assessments and prompt patch management procedures to maintain application security posture.