CVE-2018-3884 in ERPNext
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable SQL injection vulnerability exists in the authenticated part of ERPNext v10.1.6. Specially crafted web requests can cause SQL injections resulting in data compromise. The sort_by and start parameter can be used to perform an SQL injection attack. An attacker can use a browser to trigger these vulnerabilities, and no special tools are required.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3884 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the ERPNext enterprise resource planning system version 10.1.6. This security weakness exists within the authenticated portion of the application, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials to exploit the vulnerability. The flaw specifically affects the sorting and pagination functionality of the web interface, where the sort_by and start parameters are processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which classifies SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited using standard web browsers without requiring specialized attack tools, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated user submits crafted requests containing malicious SQL payloads within the sort_by and start parameters. These parameters are typically used to control how data is displayed in the application's user interface, particularly when sorting results or managing pagination. When the application processes these parameters without proper sanitization, an attacker can inject malicious SQL code that executes within the database context. The attack vector leverages the application's failure to properly escape or validate user input before incorporating it into database queries. This allows for unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete database compromise depending on the privileges of the authenticated user account. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate parameter sanitization, which are core principles of secure coding that should be implemented at all levels of application development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive business information. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially access financial records, customer data, employee information, and other confidential business assets stored within the ERPNext database. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that even a low-privilege user account could be leveraged to gain deeper access to the system, potentially escalating to administrative privileges if the database permissions are not properly restricted. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005, which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1046, which involves network service discovery. Organizations using ERPNext v10.1.6 should be particularly concerned as this vulnerability can be exploited through normal web browser interactions, making detection more difficult and potentially allowing for prolonged undetected access to sensitive systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3884 should focus on immediate patching of the ERPNext application to version 10.1.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameter sanitization for all user-supplied data, particularly within sorting and pagination parameters. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application to prevent SQL injection attacks. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their ERPNext installations, including reviewing authentication controls and access privileges to ensure that users have appropriate least-privilege access. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and block suspicious SQL injection attempts. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be implemented as part of the organization's overall cybersecurity posture to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in the future, aligning with industry best practices for maintaining secure enterprise applications.