CVE-2018-19281 in Centreon
Summary
by MITRE
Centreon 3.4.x allows SNMP trap SQL Injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19281 affects Centreon version 3.4.x and represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the SNMP trap handling functionality. This issue resides in the web interface component where Centreon processes incoming SNMP trap data, specifically when the system attempts to store or retrieve trap information from its database. The flaw occurs due to insufficient input validation and sanitization of SNMP trap parameters that are processed through the web application's database queries. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious SNMP trap messages containing specially formatted payloads that bypass normal input filtering mechanisms and directly manipulate the underlying database queries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic SQL injection attack pattern where the attacker manipulates the SNMP trap data to inject malicious SQL code into the database operations. When Centreon processes these traps, the system constructs database queries using user-supplied data without proper parameterization or escaping, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database. This vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it can be executed remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can send SNMP traps to the monitored system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise including unauthorized access to all stored configuration data, monitoring parameters, user credentials, and potentially system-level information. Attackers could escalate privileges within the Centreon environment, modify monitoring configurations to hide malicious activities, or even establish persistent backdoors through database manipulation. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire monitoring infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to gain insights into network topology, system configurations, and security posture. Additionally, the compromise of SNMP trap processing can lead to false positive or negative alerts, creating operational chaos and potentially masking actual security incidents within the monitored environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19281 should include immediate patching of Centreon to versions that address the SQL injection vulnerability through proper input validation and parameterized database queries. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to SNMP trap receiving services and employ network monitoring tools to detect anomalous SNMP traffic patterns. Database access controls should be hardened to restrict permissions for the Centreon database user accounts, implementing the principle of least privilege. Input validation should be strengthened at multiple layers including application-level filtering and database query parameterization to prevent similar issues. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify potential injection points within the monitoring infrastructure. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of SNMP trap processing activities can help detect exploitation attempts and provide forensic evidence for incident response activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of securing all components within monitoring systems as these tools often contain sensitive operational data and can serve as attack vectors for broader network compromise.