CVE-2017-5663 in Fineract
Summary
by MITRE
In Apache Fineract 0.4.0-incubating, 0.5.0-incubating, and 0.6.0-incubating, an authenticated user with client/loan/center/staff/group read permissions is able to inject malicious SQL into SELECT queries. The 'sqlSearch' parameter on a number of endpoints is not sanitized and appended directly to the query.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5663 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Apache Fineract, a financial management platform designed for microfinance institutions. This vulnerability affects versions 0.4.0-incubating through 0.6.0-incubating and exposes organizations to significant operational and security risks. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the application's query processing architecture, specifically targeting the sqlSearch parameter functionality across multiple endpoints. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access with read permissions, making it exploitable by users who already have legitimate access to the system's data. This characteristic aligns with CWE-89, which classifies SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through unvalidated input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the sqlSearch parameter is processed within SELECT queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. Attackers can append malicious SQL code to this parameter, which is then directly concatenated into database queries, bypassing normal security controls. The affected endpoints typically handle client, loan, center, staff, and group data retrieval operations, creating multiple attack vectors for potential exploitation. This design flaw essentially transforms legitimate database access points into potential injection pathways where attacker-controlled input can alter the intended query execution flow. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user access controls may be insufficiently enforced.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5663 extends beyond simple data theft, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, modify database structures, or execute destructive operations against the underlying financial data. Organizations using Apache Fineract in production environments face risks of unauthorized data access, including sensitive client information, loan records, and staff details that could be exposed through crafted SQL injection payloads. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of the software indicates a systemic design issue that requires immediate attention, as financial institutions relying on this platform for core operations could face regulatory compliance violations and reputational damage. This type of vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1213.002, involving data from information repositories, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate code-level fixes including input sanitization, parameterized queries, and comprehensive input validation for all sqlSearch parameter usage. Organizations must implement proper query parameterization techniques to prevent direct concatenation of user input into SQL statements, which is the fundamental root cause of the vulnerability. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to patched versions of Apache Fineract, implementing proper input filtering mechanisms, and conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar patterns across the application's codebase. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while ensuring that access controls remain properly enforced to limit the scope of potential damage. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in financial applications where data integrity and confidentiality are paramount.