CVE-2018-16353 in FHCRM
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in FHCRM through 2018-02-11. There is a SQL injection via the /index.php/Customer/read limit parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16353 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the FHCRM application version 2018-02-11 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input through the /index.php/Customer/read endpoint, specifically within the limit parameter that controls pagination of customer records. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query execution process, potentially compromising the entire backend database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the FHCRM application's customer data retrieval mechanism. When the limit parameter is processed, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied values before incorporating them into SQL queries. This omission creates an environment where attackers can manipulate the parameter to inject malicious SQL syntax that bypasses normal authentication and authorization controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to execute unauthorized database commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with extensive database access capabilities that can lead to complete system compromise. An attacker exploiting this flaw could extract sensitive customer information including personal identification details, financial records, and proprietary business data. The vulnerability also enables potential data manipulation attacks where attackers might alter or delete customer records, disrupt service availability, or establish persistent backdoors within the system. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1046 for network service scanning to identify vulnerable endpoints.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the FHCRM application to the latest secure version that addresses the input validation weakness. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries and input sanitization measures to prevent similar issues in other application components. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Database access controls should be reviewed to ensure principle of least privilege is maintained, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify potential injection points throughout the application architecture. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation as a fundamental security control that aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks for preventing injection attacks.