CVE-2018-1000552 in Trovebox
Summary
by MITRE
Trovebox version <= 4.0.0-rc6 contains a SQL Injection vulnerability in album component that can result in SQL code injection. This attack appear to be exploitable via HTTP request. This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in after commit 742b8ed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1000552 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Trovebox content management system version 4.0.0-rc6 and earlier releases. This security weakness resides within the album component of the application, specifically exposing it to unauthorized SQL code injection attacks that could potentially compromise the entire database infrastructure. The vulnerability manifests through HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely by attackers without requiring physical access to the system. The attack vector suggests that malicious actors could manipulate input parameters within album-related operations to inject arbitrary SQL commands, thereby bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a serious weakness that allows attackers to execute malicious SQL statements against the database. The exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to extract sensitive information, modify or delete database records, and potentially gain elevated privileges within the system. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with the technique T1071.005 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting web application interfaces. The fix for this vulnerability was implemented in commit 742b8ed, which likely involved proper input sanitization, parameterized queries, or other defensive coding practices to prevent malicious SQL code from being executed. The timeline of this vulnerability suggests it existed for an extended period, potentially exposing numerous installations to risk before the patch was released. Organizations using Trovebox versions prior to the fixed release would have been particularly vulnerable to data breaches, as SQL injection attacks can result in complete database compromise. The remote exploitability via HTTP requests means that attackers could leverage this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet, making it a high-priority issue for system administrators. The nature of the flaw indicates that the application was not properly validating or escaping user input before incorporating it into SQL queries, which represents a fundamental security oversight in the application's data handling processes. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing secure coding practices and proper input validation to prevent malicious code injection attacks that could have devastating consequences for database security.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1000552 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential system compromise and business disruption. When exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to access sensitive user information, including personal details, authentication credentials, and potentially confidential organizational data stored within the Trovebox database. The ability to inject SQL commands means that attackers could manipulate the database structure, execute administrative operations, or even escalate privileges to gain deeper system access. From a compliance perspective, organizations using affected versions of Trovebox would be at risk of violating data protection regulations such as gdpr, hipaa, or other applicable privacy laws, depending on the nature of the data stored. The vulnerability's presence in the album component suggests that photo and media management functionality would be particularly at risk, potentially exposing user-generated content and associated metadata to unauthorized access. The fact that this vulnerability was exploitable through HTTP requests indicates that it could be automated, making it attractive to threat actors who might deploy bots or scripts to scan for vulnerable systems. Security professionals would need to conduct thorough assessments of affected installations, potentially involving database audit trails, network monitoring, and application log analysis to detect exploitation attempts. The remediation process would require not only updating to the patched version but also implementing comprehensive security testing to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the application. Organizations would need to consider the potential for data loss or corruption that could result from exploitation, and develop incident response procedures to address potential breaches. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper security controls to prevent unauthorized access to database systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1000552 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates combined with defensive security measures to reduce the attack surface. The most critical step involves upgrading to a patched version of Trovebox that incorporates the fix from commit 742b8ed, which would typically involve implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all installations running affected versions and prioritize patching based on risk exposure. Network security controls should include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection attempts, along with intrusion detection systems that monitor for patterns consistent with this type of attack. Database access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure that applications use least-privilege accounts with minimal database permissions, reducing the potential impact if an attack were successful. Input validation mechanisms should be enhanced to sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, particularly for parameters used in database queries. Regular security testing including penetration testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Organizations should also implement database monitoring solutions to detect unusual query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing defensive measures such as input validation controls and query monitoring to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability type. Security teams should establish procedures for tracking patch deployment and verify that all systems have been properly updated. Additionally, implementing proper logging and audit trails for database operations can help detect unauthorized access attempts and provide evidence for forensic analysis if an attack occurs. Regular security awareness training for developers and system administrators can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future code releases, emphasizing the importance of secure coding practices and proper input handling techniques.