CVE-2018-0530 in Garoon
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Cybozu Garoon 3.5.0 to 4.2.6 allows remote authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0530 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Cybozu Garoon collaboration platform version 3.5.0 through 4.2.6. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The affected system processes authentication requests and user interactions through a web interface that does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could alter the intended SQL command structure. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate database operations by injecting malicious SQL code through various input fields that are processed by the application's backend database layer. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, making it a direct instance of SQL injection attacks that have been consistently ranked among the top security risks in the OWASP Top Ten.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user account within the Garoon system, which significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely. Attackers leverage the authenticated session to submit malicious payloads through unspecified vectors that ultimately reach the database query execution layer. The attack typically involves crafting SQL commands that bypass authentication checks or directly manipulate database records, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, extract sensitive user information, or even compromise the entire database infrastructure. The nature of SQL injection allows for various attack vectors including union-based queries, error-based exploitation, or time-based blind injection techniques that can be employed to extract database schema information and user credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0530 is substantial for organizations relying on Cybozu Garoon for business collaboration and document management services. Remote authenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to corporate databases containing sensitive information such as employee records, business documents, and internal communications. The compromise of the database layer can lead to complete data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and significant financial losses. Organizations using affected versions of Garoon may experience service disruption during incident response activities, including database restoration, security patching, and forensic analysis. The vulnerability also affects the integrity of the system's authentication mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges beyond their initial authenticated access level. This risk is particularly concerning for enterprises that store confidential business data or personal information within the Garoon platform, as the attack can result in long-term data exposure and potential legal consequences.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0530 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Cybozu, as the vendor has released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations must implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling processes to prevent malicious SQL code injection. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that database accounts used by the Garoon application have minimal required permissions, limiting potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous database query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews and penetration testing to identify additional injection points that may not have been covered by the initial patch. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented as part of the ongoing security posture management to prevent similar issues from emerging in the future. The remediation process should also include user access reviews to ensure that only authorized personnel maintain accounts within the system, reducing the likelihood of privilege escalation through compromised credentials. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to provide additional layers of defense against SQL injection attacks.