CVE-2018-1280 in Greenplum Command Center
Summary
by MITRE
Pivotal Greenplum Command Center versions 2.x prior to 2.5.1 contains a blind SQL injection vulnerability. An unauthenticated user can perform a SQL injection in the command center which results in disclosure of database contents.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1280 affects Pivotal Greenplum Command Center versions 2.x before 2.5.1, representing a critical blind SQL injection flaw that compromises database security. This vulnerability resides within the command center component of the Greenplum database ecosystem, which serves as a management interface for monitoring and controlling Greenplum clusters. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious SQL commands through input parameters that are not properly sanitized, creating a pathway for unauthorized database access and data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and parameter sanitization within the command center's web interface. When user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization, attackers can manipulate the query structure to extract sensitive information from the underlying database. The blind nature of this injection means that attackers cannot directly see query results in their browser but can infer data through time-based or boolean-based techniques, making detection more challenging while maintaining the same level of risk. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in database applications where user input is improperly handled in SQL commands.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1280 extends beyond simple data disclosure, as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to potentially sensitive enterprise data stored within Greenplum databases. Organizations using affected versions face risks of intellectual property theft, customer data exposure, and potential regulatory compliance violations depending on the nature of data stored in their Greenplum clusters. The unauthenticated nature of the vulnerability means that any external attacker with access to the command center interface can exploit this flaw without requiring valid credentials, making the attack surface significantly larger. This vulnerability also represents a potential stepping stone for further attacks within the network infrastructure, as database access often provides attackers with additional attack vectors and information for lateral movement.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patching of affected Greenplum Command Center installations to address this vulnerability. The remediation involves upgrading to version 2.5.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and parameter sanitization measures. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the command center interface, restrict external exposure of database management ports, and deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS), as attackers may use these methods to identify and exploit vulnerable systems. Additionally, implementing comprehensive logging and monitoring of database access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments of database management interfaces should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the database ecosystem.