CVE-2018-20508 in CrashFix
Summary
by MITRE
CrashFix 1.0.4 has SQL Injection via the User[status] parameter. This is related to actionIndex in UserController.php, and the protected\models\User.php search() function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20508 affects CrashFix version 1.0.4 and represents a critical SQL injection flaw that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary database commands. This vulnerability specifically manifests through the User[status] parameter within the application's user management functionality, where the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user input before incorporating it into database queries. The issue is rooted in the actionIndex method of the UserController.php file, which serves as the primary interface for user status management and query processing. The vulnerability is further exacerbated by the protected\models\User.php search() function that handles the database interaction, creating a direct pathway for malicious input to be processed as part of the SQL execution string without adequate protection mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a crafted User[status] parameter value that contains malicious SQL code. The application's failure to implement proper input validation or parameterized queries means that user-supplied data is directly concatenated into SQL statements, enabling attackers to manipulate database queries and potentially extract sensitive information, modify data, or even gain unauthorized access to the underlying database system. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects core user management functionality, which typically requires elevated privileges and contains sensitive user data that attackers would find valuable for further exploitation. This flaw falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a critical weakness in software applications that process user input through database queries without proper sanitization.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system's user data. Attackers could potentially extract user credentials, personal information, or other sensitive data stored in the database through UNION-based or boolean-based SQL injection techniques. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require advanced technical skills beyond basic understanding of SQL injection principles, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, particularly if the database user account has elevated privileges. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005 for application layer protocol usage and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, representing a classic example of how insecure input handling can lead to database compromise.
The recommended mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include implementing proper input validation and sanitization techniques throughout the application's data processing pipeline, particularly for the UserController.php file and the User model's search() function. Organizations should immediately implement parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent user input from being interpreted as SQL code. Additionally, the application should be updated to a patched version of CrashFix that addresses this specific vulnerability. Access controls should be reviewed to ensure that database users have minimal required privileges, and input filtering should be implemented at multiple layers of the application architecture. Regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues. The implementation of web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional detection capabilities for potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing proper error handling that prevents database error messages from being exposed to end users, as these can provide valuable information for attackers attempting to exploit similar vulnerabilities.