CVE-2018-18801 in Ordering Software
Summary
by MITRE
The BSEN Ordering software 1.0 has SQL Injection via student/index.php?view=view&id=[SQL] or index.php?q=single-item&id=[SQL].
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18801 affects the BSEN Ordering software version 1.0 and represents a critical SQL injection flaw that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary database commands. This vulnerability exists in the software's web interface where user input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL queries. The specific attack vectors are exposed through two distinct endpoints: student/index.php?view=view&id=[SQL] and index.php?q=single-item&id=[SQL] where the id parameter is susceptible to malicious SQL payload injection. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper parameter handling within the application's database interaction logic, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can directly manipulate the underlying database query structure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database engine. The attack occurs when user-supplied data flows directly into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. The affected parameters in both URL endpoints accept arbitrary input that gets concatenated into SQL statements, enabling attackers to craft malicious payloads that can extract, modify, or delete database contents. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote user with access to the affected web interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete database compromise and potential system infiltration. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including student records, administrative credentials, and system configurations. The implications include unauthorized data access, data integrity compromise, and potential denial of service conditions. Given that this affects an ordering software system, the attack surface could include financial transaction data, user account information, and potentially sensitive academic records. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform union-based SQL injection attacks, allowing them to retrieve data from other database tables through the application's error messages and response handling.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-18801 should prioritize immediate implementation of parameterized queries and input validation measures. The recommended approach involves implementing proper prepared statements with parameter binding to ensure that user input cannot alter the SQL query structure. Additionally, input sanitization should be enforced at multiple layers including application-level validation, web application firewalls, and database access controls. The software should be updated to a patched version that addresses the SQL injection vulnerability, and all user inputs should undergo strict validation against expected data types and formats. Security monitoring should be implemented to detect and log suspicious database access patterns, while access controls should be strengthened to limit database privileges to the minimum required for application functionality. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive application security measures including secure coding practices and regular vulnerability assessments to prevent similar issues in other software components.