CVE-2018-17796 in MRCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in MRCMS (aka mushroom) through 3.1.2. The WebParam.java file directly accepts the FIELD_T parameter in a request and uses it as a hash of SQL statements without filtering, resulting in a SQL injection vulnerability in getChannel() in the ChannelService.java file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17796 resides within MRCMS version 3.1.2 and earlier, specifically within the WebParam.java component that processes incoming HTTP requests. This flaw represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability that occurs when user-supplied input is directly incorporated into database queries without proper sanitization or validation. The vulnerability manifests when the FIELD_T parameter is accepted from client requests and subsequently utilized as a key in hash operations that ultimately construct SQL statements. This design flaw allows malicious actors to manipulate the parameter value to inject arbitrary SQL commands that bypass normal input validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input handling within the ChannelService.java file, particularly in the getChannel() method where the unfiltered FIELD_T parameter is processed. When the application receives a request containing the FIELD_T parameter, the WebParam.java component fails to validate or sanitize the input before passing it to the database layer. This creates an exploitable condition where attackers can craft malicious payloads that manipulate the hash-based SQL construction logic, effectively allowing them to execute unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 SQL Injection, which represents one of the most critical web application security flaws according to the CWE database maintained by MITRE.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data retrieval manipulation. Attackers can leverage this SQL injection flaw to extract sensitive information from the database, modify or delete records, and potentially escalate privileges within the application's database layer. The hash-based approach used in the implementation does not provide adequate protection against malicious input as it simply transforms the parameter value into a hash without performing content validation. This creates a scenario where even if the hash algorithm appears secure, the underlying parameter value can still contain malicious SQL constructs that survive the hashing process and are subsequently executed against the database backend.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK framework's T1071.005 Application Layer Protocol category, specifically targeting database communication protocols. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability exists in a core service component that handles channel-related operations, suggesting potential access to sensitive configuration data or user information. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and parameterized queries, while also considering the implementation of web application firewalls and database activity monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and the dangers of relying on hash-based processing as a security control mechanism without comprehensive validation of the underlying data being hashed.
This vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture, where the assumption that hash-based processing provides sufficient protection against malicious input proves inadequate. The lack of proper input validation at the parameter level creates a direct pathway for attackers to bypass security controls and execute arbitrary database commands, making this a critical vulnerability that requires immediate remediation through code-level fixes and comprehensive security testing to prevent unauthorized access to the underlying database systems.