CVE-2018-12110 in portfolioCMS
Summary
by MITRE
portfolioCMS 1.0.5 has SQL Injection via the admin/portfolio.php preview parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12110 affects portfolioCMS version 1.0.5 and represents a critical SQL injection flaw that undermines the application's database security mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically manifests through the admin/portfolio.php script where the preview parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. The flaw resides in the application's failure to implement proper input validation and output encoding practices, allowing attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted input sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic SQL injection pattern where the preview parameter in the admin/portfolio.php endpoint directly incorporates user-supplied data into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This design flaw enables attackers to inject malicious SQL payloads that can manipulate database operations, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the administrative interface of the content management system, providing attackers with elevated privileges and access to sensitive backend operations. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, which is a well-documented weakness in database interaction security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate their privileges within the application environment. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, allowing unauthorized users to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and administrative configurations. The vulnerability also poses risks to the overall system integrity and availability, as attackers could potentially modify or corrupt database contents, leading to service disruption and data loss. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1071.005: Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1213.002: Data from Information Repositories, as attackers could leverage this flaw to exfiltrate data and gain access to repository systems. The administrative access point makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it provides a direct path to system compromise rather than requiring additional reconnaissance or privilege escalation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-12110 must focus on immediate patching of the portfolioCMS application to the latest available version that addresses this SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. Database access controls should be reviewed and restricted to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against SQL injection attacks targeting this specific vulnerability. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive protection against database-related threats. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and following established security frameworks to prevent such critical flaws from being introduced into software applications.