CVE-2018-7735 in FileRun
Summary
by MITRE
Afian FileRun (before 2018.02.13) suffers from a remote SQL injection vulnerability, when logged in as superuser, via the search parameter in a /?module=metadata§ion=cpanel&page=list_filetypes request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7735 affects Afian FileRun versions prior to 2018.02.13 and represents a critical remote SQL injection flaw that can be exploited by authenticated superusers. This vulnerability resides within the metadata module of the FileRun application, specifically in the cpanel section where file types are listed. The attack vector occurs through the search parameter within the URL structure ?module=metadata§ion=cpanel&page=list_filetypes, making it accessible to any user with superuser privileges who can manipulate the search functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's database query construction process. When a superuser performs a search operation within the file types listing page, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize the search parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows an attacker with superuser credentials to inject malicious SQL commands that can be executed against the underlying database. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 - SQL Injection, which is one of the most critical web application security flaws as it can lead to complete database compromise and unauthorized data access.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations using FileRun as their file management solution. A superuser with malicious intent can extract sensitive data including user credentials, file metadata, and potentially system information from the database. The attack requires only authentication as a superuser, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to vulnerabilities requiring additional exploitation steps. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, though it operates at a different layer, demonstrating how authenticated privilege escalation can lead to database-level compromise. The implications extend beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise and unauthorized access to confidential information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7735 focus primarily on immediate patching of the FileRun application to version 2018.02.13 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit superuser privileges to only essential personnel. Additional defensive measures include regular security audits of database queries, implementation of web application firewalls, and monitoring for unusual database access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and parameterized queries as recommended by OWASP Top Ten and the CWE guidelines. Security teams should also consider implementing principle of least privilege for superuser accounts and regularly review access controls to prevent unauthorized escalation of privileges. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring all user-supplied input is properly escaped or parameterized before database query execution, thereby preventing malicious SQL injection attempts.