CVE-2017-20168 in piWallet
Summary
by MITRE • 01/11/2023
A vulnerability was found in jfm-so piWallet. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file api.php. The manipulation of the argument key leads to sql injection. The name of the patch is b420f8c4cbe7f06a34d1b05e90ee5cdfe0aa83bb. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. VDB-218006 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20168 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the jfm-so piWallet application, specifically affecting the api.php file. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The issue manifests when the key argument parameter is manipulated by an attacker, allowing malicious input to be directly executed as sql commands within the backend database system. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates the potential for severe impact including complete database compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to sensitive user information stored within the wallet application's database infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the key argument parameter within the api.php file, which serves as an entry point for sql injection attacks. When user input is not properly escaped or validated, attackers can inject malicious sql payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and directly interact with the underlying database. This flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate parameter binding mechanisms that are fundamental security controls recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project and the SANS Institute's critical security controls framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges, modify or delete sensitive database records, and gain persistent access to the wallet application's backend infrastructure. Given that piWallet is a financial application handling user credentials and transaction data, successful exploitation could result in unauthorized fund transfers, identity theft, and comprehensive compromise of user accounts. The vulnerability's presence in the api.php file suggests that multiple application functions may be exposed to similar attack vectors, creating a broader attack surface that could affect the entire wallet ecosystem. Organizations using this application face significant risk of regulatory compliance violations under standards such as PCI DSS and GDPR due to the potential exposure of sensitive financial data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of the provided patch identified by the commit hash b420f8c4cbe7f06a34d1b05e90ee5cdfe0aa83bb, which likely addresses the input validation and parameter handling mechanisms within the api.php file. Security teams should implement proper input sanitization techniques including prepared statements and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks, as recommended by the ATT&CK framework's T1190 technique for exploitation of sql injection vulnerabilities. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, conducting comprehensive code reviews, and establishing robust database access controls. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. The patch should be validated through penetration testing and security assessment procedures to ensure complete remediation of the vulnerability and prevent similar issues in other application components.