CVE-2018-20779 in Traq
Summary
by MITRE
Traq 3.7.1 allows SQL Injection via a tickets?search= URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20779 affects Traq version 3.7.1 and represents a critical SQL injection flaw that can be exploited through the tickets?search= URI parameter. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The flaw exists in the web application's input handling mechanism, where user-supplied data from the search parameter is directly concatenated into database queries without adequate validation or escaping.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input through the tickets?search= URI endpoint, which then gets processed by the application's backend database layer. The application fails to properly sanitize or parameterize the search input before incorporating it into SQL commands, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary SQL code that can manipulate the database queries. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion operations, potentially leading to complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the Traq system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with elevated privileges and extensive access to the underlying database system. An attacker could extract confidential user information, modify or delete critical data, and potentially escalate their access to gain administrative control over the application. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system, making it a critical concern for organizations using Traq 3.7.1. The attack surface is relatively narrow since it specifically targets the search functionality, but the consequences can be devastating due to the sensitive nature of ticketing systems and the potential for data exposure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20779 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of Traq that addresses this vulnerability, as the vendor likely released a security update to resolve the issue. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, input sanitization, and output encoding can provide additional layers of protection. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which covers exploitation of remote services and T1071.004 which addresses application layer protocol usage, both of which are relevant to defending against SQL injection attacks targeting web applications. Regular security testing, including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing, should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components and ensure comprehensive protection against SQL injection threats.