CVE-2017-9427 in BigTree
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in BigTree CMS through 4.2.18 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via core\admin\modules\developer\modules\designer\form-create.php. The attacker creates a crafted table name at admin/developer/modules/designer/ and the injection is visible at admin/dashboard/vitals-statistics/integrity/check/?external=true.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2022
The CVE-2017-9427 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within BigTree CMS versions up to 4.2.18 that demonstrates the dangerous consequences of improper input validation in web application frameworks. This vulnerability exists within the developer module's designer functionality, specifically in the core/admin/modules/developer/modules/designer/form-create.php file where user-supplied data is inadequately sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to manipulate the application's database interactions by crafting malicious table names through the web interface, effectively bypassing normal security controls that should prevent unauthorized database access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed table name parameter that gets processed without proper escaping or parameterization. When an attacker creates a table with a malicious name through the designer interface, the application fails to properly sanitize this input before executing database operations. The injection becomes apparent when navigating to the integrity check dashboard endpoint at admin/dashboard/vitals-statistics/integrity/check/?external=true where the malformed input propagates through the application's query execution chain. This pattern aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL command strings without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as authenticated users can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract sensitive information including user credentials, database schema details, and potentially gain elevated privileges within the database environment. The vulnerability's persistence in the application's core functionality means that any user with developer privileges can exploit this weakness, creating a significant risk for organizations where multiple administrators have access to the CMS. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it operates through legitimate administrative functions that should not expose database-level capabilities to end users.
Organizations affected by CVE-2017-9427 should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The primary mitigation involves patching the application to version 4.2.19 or later where the input validation has been properly implemented to prevent SQL injection attacks. Additionally, implementing proper parameterized queries and input sanitization techniques throughout the application codebase would provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, while strict access controls and privilege separation can limit the damage if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following ATT&CK framework principles for defensive measures, particularly focusing on privilege escalation and command execution techniques that attackers might employ through such injection flaws. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input handling issues in other parts of the application that might present analogous security risks.