CVE-2018-11444 in EasyService Billing
Summary
by MITRE
A SQL Injection issue was observed in the parameter "q" in jobcard-ongoing.php in EasyService Billing 1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11444 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the EasyService Billing 1.0 web application, specifically targeting the jobcard-ongoing.php script. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through the "q" parameter. The vulnerability exists in the context of web application security where proper parameter handling is essential to prevent unauthorized data access and system compromise. The affected application appears to process user input directly into database queries without appropriate sanitization measures, making it susceptible to exploitation by attackers who can craft malicious SQL payloads.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or parameterize user input before incorporating it into SQL queries. When the "q" parameter is submitted through the jobcard-ongoing.php endpoint, the application directly concatenates this input into database commands without adequate filtering or validation. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization. The vulnerability classification indicates that the application's input handling mechanism lacks the necessary security controls to distinguish between legitimate user input and potentially malicious SQL code fragments that could alter the intended query execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary database commands with the privileges of the application's database user. Successful exploitation could lead to complete database compromise, allowing attackers to extract sensitive information including customer data, billing records, and potentially system credentials. The vulnerability's location within a billing application increases the severity of potential damage, as it could expose financial information and personal data of customers. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform data manipulation, create backdoors, or execute privilege escalation attacks, all while maintaining persistent access to the compromised system. This represents a significant risk to business continuity and regulatory compliance, particularly in environments governed by standards such as pci dss and gdpr.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application. The recommended approach involves replacing direct string concatenation with prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL code from user input. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures including character encoding, whitelist validation, and proper error handling to prevent information leakage. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the application codebase. The implementation of web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and credential access, making it a critical target for defensive measures. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools and establishing secure coding practices to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.