CVE-2018-1289 in Fineract
Summary
by MITRE
In Apache Fineract versions 1.0.0, 0.6.0-incubating, 0.5.0-incubating, 0.4.0-incubating, the system exposes different REST end points to query domain specific entities with a Query Parameter 'orderBy' and 'sortOrder' which are appended directly with SQL statements. A hacker/user can inject/draft the 'orderBy' and 'sortOrder' query parameter in such a way to read/update the data for which he doesn't have authorization.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2020
The vulnerability identified in Apache Fineract under CVE-2018-1289 represents a critical SQL injection flaw that undermines the system's authorization controls and data integrity mechanisms. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of the Apache Fineract platform including 1.0.0, 0.6.0-incubating, 0.5.0-incubating, and 0.4.0-incubating, making it a widespread concern for financial institutions and organizations relying on this open-source lending platform for their core banking operations. The flaw exists within the system's REST API implementation where developers directly concatenate user-supplied parameters into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization, creating an exploitable entry point for unauthorized data access and manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of query parameters within the system's data retrieval mechanisms. When users make REST API calls to query domain-specific entities, the system accepts 'orderBy' and 'sortOrder' parameters that are directly appended to SQL statements without any input validation or sanitization. This design pattern creates a classic SQL injection vulnerability where malicious actors can manipulate these parameters to alter the intended database query structure. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker crafts specific values for the orderBy and sortOrder parameters that, when concatenated into the SQL statement, result in unauthorized data access or modification operations. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-89 SQL Injection, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous security flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally compromises the system's authorization model and data integrity controls. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can bypass legitimate access controls to read, update, or manipulate sensitive financial data that should only be accessible to authorized personnel. The implications are particularly severe in financial services environments where Apache Fineract is commonly deployed, as unauthorized access to loan records, customer information, transaction histories, and account balances could lead to significant financial losses, regulatory violations, and reputational damage. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to perform unauthorized database operations through the legitimate API endpoints, making detection more challenging since the malicious activity appears to originate from authorized system interactions.
Organizations utilizing Apache Fineract must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including comprehensive input validation, parameterized queries, and strict authorization controls. The most effective remediation involves modifying the system's API implementation to use parameterized SQL queries instead of direct string concatenation, ensuring that user-supplied orderBy and sortOrder parameters are properly sanitized and validated. Additionally, implementing proper access control mechanisms that enforce role-based permissions and audit all API interactions can help detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious API usage patterns. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol DNS, as attackers may use the exposed API endpoints to conduct their exploitation activities. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their Fineract implementations, review all API endpoints for similar vulnerabilities, and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent future occurrences of such security flaws.