CVE-2018-17552 in Navigate CMS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL Injection in login.php in Naviwebs Navigate CMS 2.8 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via the navigate-user cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17552 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Naviwebs Navigate CMS version 2.8 authentication mechanism. This issue specifically affects the login.php script where user authentication is processed, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system without proper credentials. The vulnerability manifests through manipulation of the navigate-user cookie parameter, which is improperly validated and sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. This flaw allows malicious actors to craft specially crafted cookies that can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database, potentially enabling full system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter sanitization within the CMS authentication flow. When the navigate-user cookie is processed by login.php, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL queries. This classic SQL injection vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it targets the authentication layer itself, meaning that successful exploitation bypasses all normal authentication mechanisms and grants unauthorized access to the CMS administration interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected CMS instance. Once authenticated, malicious actors can modify content, add or remove users, install malicious plugins, and potentially escalate privileges to system-level access depending on the underlying database configuration. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the server or network infrastructure. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain access to systems, specifically targeting authentication mechanisms to establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of several security measures. The primary fix involves proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the authentication process, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before database interaction. Organizations should implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious cookie patterns, while also applying the official security patch released by Naviwebs for version 2.8. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns and cookie manipulation attempts. Regular security audits of web applications should include thorough testing of authentication mechanisms for SQL injection vulnerabilities, with particular attention to cookie handling and session management components that are frequently targeted by attackers.