CVE-2018-5960 in Zenario
Summary
by MITRE
Zenario v7.1 - v7.6 has SQL injection via the `Name` input field of organizer.php or admin_boxes.ajax.php in the `Categories - Edit` module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2018-5960 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Zenario content management system versions 7.1 through 7.6. This vulnerability specifically targets the Categories - Edit module where the `Name` input field in organizer.php or admin_boxes.ajax.php remains unvalidated and unsanitized, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors. The flaw allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands through the user input field, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a severe weakness in application security where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper validation or escaping. Attackers can manipulate the `Name` parameter to execute malicious SQL statements that may retrieve, modify, or delete sensitive database records. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input sanitization and improper parameter handling within the administrative interfaces of the Zenario system, particularly in the AJAX-based administrative modules that process user-submitted data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within the CMS environment. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, unauthorized content modification, user credential theft, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the administrative functionality of Zenario, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to manipulate the content management system's core data structures. This weakness enables attackers to gain persistent access to the system and potentially escalate privileges to full administrative control.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5960 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Zenario versions to the latest releases that contain proper input validation and parameter sanitization. Organizations should implement strict input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, utilize prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection, and conduct regular security assessments of administrative interfaces. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of administrative endpoints. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security best practices such as the principle of least privilege, regular security updates, and implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious SQL injection attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive backup strategies to ensure rapid recovery from potential compromise.