CVE-2018-18488 in Gxlcms
Summary
by MITRE
In \lib\admin\action\dataaction.class.php in Gxlcms v2.0, SQL Injection exists via the ids[] parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18488 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Gxlcms v2.0 content management system, specifically located in the lib/adminction/dataaction.class.php file. This vulnerability manifests through the insecure handling of the ids[] parameter, which allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query execution process. The flaw falls under the category of CWE-89 SQL Injection as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which categorizes this as a direct injection attack where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker manipulates the ids[] parameter in HTTP requests sent to the affected system. The parameter is directly incorporated into database queries without adequate input validation or sanitization measures, enabling attackers to construct malicious SQL payloads that can be executed within the database context. This type of injection attack can potentially lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, or complete database compromise, depending on the privileges of the database user account executing the queries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform extensive database operations including but not limited to data enumeration, privilege escalation, and potential system compromise. The vulnerability affects the administrative functionality of the Gxlcms platform, making it particularly dangerous as it could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to administrative controls, modify content, or extract sensitive information from the database. The attack surface is broad since the ids[] parameter is likely used in various administrative operations where multiple record identifiers are processed simultaneously, making it a prime target for exploitation.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and parameterized query implementation to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper escaping mechanisms or utilizing prepared statements with parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and input validation at the application level can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS where attackers might use such vulnerabilities to establish persistence or exfiltrate data through database manipulation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly in administrative interfaces where elevated privileges are involved. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as SQL injection remains one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws in the industry.