CVE-2017-5971 in NewsBee
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in NewsBee CMS allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2019
The CVE-2017-5971 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the NewsBee Content Management System that exposes remote attackers to significant security risks. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input parameters that are directly incorporated into SQL query constructions without proper sanitization or parameterization. The flaw specifically affects how the CMS processes certain input fields, allowing malicious actors to inject crafted SQL commands that bypass authentication mechanisms and potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper query construction practices within the NewsBee CMS codebase. When users submit data through various forms or parameters, the system fails to properly escape or parameterize these inputs before incorporating them into database queries. This creates an environment where attackers can manipulate the intended query flow by injecting malicious SQL syntax that executes with the privileges of the database user account. The vulnerability manifests across multiple endpoints within the CMS where user-supplied data is processed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5971 extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with comprehensive database access capabilities that can lead to complete system compromise. Successful exploitation allows threat actors to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configurations that may contain additional attack vectors. The vulnerability also enables attackers to modify or delete database content, potentially causing data integrity issues and service disruption. Furthermore, the compromised database access can serve as a launching point for lateral movement within the network infrastructure, particularly if the database server hosts other applications or services that share the same credentials.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and web application firewalls to prevent exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper input sanitization techniques and the adoption of prepared statements or parameterized queries represents the most effective long-term solution. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage in database access manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts and maintain compliance with industry standards such as pci dss and iso 27001 requirements for secure application development and maintenance practices.