CVE-2018-1292 in Fineract
Summary
by MITRE
Within the 'getReportType' method in Apache Fineract 1.0.0, 0.6.0-incubating, 0.5.0-incubating, 0.4.0-incubating, a hacker could inject SQL to read/update data for which he doesn't have authorization for by way of the 'reportName' parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1292 resides within Apache Fineract, an open-source financial services platform designed for microfinance institutions. This issue affects multiple versions including 1.0.0, 0.6.0-incubating, 0.5.0-incubating, and 0.4.0-incubating, representing a critical security flaw in the system's data access controls. The vulnerability specifically manifests within the getReportType method, which serves as a critical interface for report generation and data retrieval functions within the financial platform. This flaw enables unauthorized data access through SQL injection techniques that bypass normal authorization mechanisms, fundamentally compromising the integrity and confidentiality of financial data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper parameter handling within the report generation functionality. Attackers can exploit the 'reportName' parameter by injecting malicious SQL code that manipulates the underlying database queries executed by the getReportType method. This injection occurs because the application directly incorporates user-supplied input into database queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is concatenated into SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization. The flaw essentially allows attackers to construct arbitrary SQL statements that can retrieve, modify, or delete data beyond their authorized scope, effectively bypassing the platform's access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1292 extends far beyond simple data exposure, representing a severe threat to financial institution security and regulatory compliance. Financial data integrity becomes compromised as attackers can access sensitive information including customer records, transaction histories, account balances, and other confidential financial details. The unauthorized data modification capabilities pose additional risks where attackers could potentially alter financial records, manipulate account balances, or corrupt critical operational data. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and data confidentiality that financial institutions must maintain, potentially violating regulatory requirements such as those imposed by PCI DSS, SOX, and various local financial regulations. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates through standard report generation functions that are commonly used and may not be closely monitored for security threats.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Apache Fineract should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves upgrading to patched versions of the software where the SQL injection vulnerability has been resolved through proper input validation and parameterized query implementations. Security teams should also implement network-level controls including firewall rules that restrict access to the affected API endpoints and deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious SQL injection attempts. Additionally, the implementation of proper input validation routines and the adoption of parameterized queries should be enforced across all database interaction points within the platform. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation, where attackers exploit application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities within their financial applications and ensure proper access controls remain in place throughout their systems.