CVE-2018-10225 in ThinkPHP
Summary
by MITRE
thinkphp 3.1.3 has SQL Injection via the index.php s parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10225 affects ThinkPHP version 3.1.3 and represents a critical SQL injection flaw that can be exploited through the index.php s parameter. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the s parameter, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the framework's query processing logic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes user input through the s parameter in the index.php file without adequate protection measures. When an attacker submits malicious input through this parameter, the framework fails to properly escape or parameterize the input before incorporating it into database queries. This creates an exploitable condition where SQL commands can be injected and executed with the privileges of the database user account. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core query processing functionality of the framework, making it difficult to patch at the application level without updating the entire framework itself.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems running affected ThinkPHP versions as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive data including user credentials, personal information, financial records, and other confidential database content. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers may also be able to modify or delete database records, potentially causing system downtime or data corruption. Additionally, successful exploitation can lead to further compromise of the affected system, as attackers may use the database access to pivot to other systems within the network or escalate privileges to gain broader system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10225 primarily focus on immediate framework updates to versions that address the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to ThinkPHP 3.2.3 or later versions which contain proper input sanitization and parameterization mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple layers, web application firewalls, and database query monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1046 which involves network service scanning that can be used to identify vulnerable systems. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack, as this type of injection vulnerability often indicates broader security weaknesses in the application architecture.