CVE-2019-12374 in LANDesk Management Suite
Summary
by MITRE
A SQL Injection vulnerability exists in Ivanti LANDESK Management Suite (LDMS, aka Endpoint Manager) 10.0.1.168 Service Update 5 due to improper username sanitization in the Basic Authentication implementation in core/provisioning.secure/ProvisioningSecure.asmx in Provisioning.Secure.dll.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12374 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Ivanti LANDESK Management Suite version 10.0.1.168 Service Update 5. This security weakness resides in the core provisioning secure module, specifically within the ProvisioningSecure.asmx web service implementation that handles authentication processes. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user credentials, particularly username parameters, during the basic authentication workflow. Attackers can exploit this flaw to inject malicious SQL commands into the authentication process, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the underlying database system. The affected component Provisioning.Secure.dll serves as a critical interface for endpoint management operations, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could allow attackers to compromise the entire management infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the LANDESK management environment, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary database commands, extract sensitive information, or manipulate management data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the Basic Authentication mechanism that fails to properly sanitize username inputs before incorporating them into SQL queries. When users attempt to authenticate through the provisioning secure web service, the system processes the username parameter without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL syntax into the username field, which then gets executed as part of the database query. The vulnerability manifests as a classic SQL injection attack vector where the attacker can manipulate the authentication flow to bypass normal access controls. The flaw is classified under CWE-89, SQL Injection, and represents a direct failure in input validation and output encoding practices. The attack requires minimal privileges to initiate, as the vulnerability exists in the authentication layer that is typically accessible to unauthenticated users. The exploitation process involves crafting a specially formatted username that contains SQL injection payloads, which then gets processed by the vulnerable SQL query execution engine.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete compromise of the LANDESK management suite. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially execute arbitrary database commands, access sensitive endpoint information, manipulate management policies, and gain persistent access to the management infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core provisioning capabilities of the system, which are essential for managing endpoints across enterprise environments. This could result in significant data breaches, as the compromised system may contain sensitive endpoint information, configuration data, and management credentials. The impact is particularly severe because LANDESK Management Suite is commonly used in enterprise environments where it manages critical infrastructure components, making this vulnerability a high-value target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access within organizational networks. The vulnerability also impacts the system's ability to maintain proper access controls and authentication integrity, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or impersonate legitimate users within the management environment.
Organizations affected by CVE-2019-12374 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates as soon as they become available. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit access to the vulnerable provisioning secure web service. The implementation of web application firewalls and SQL injection detection mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious authentication attempts and unusual database query patterns. Input validation and sanitization should be strengthened across all authentication mechanisms, with proper parameterized queries implemented to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially vulnerable components within their LANDESK management infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, with potential subsequent techniques including T1078 - Valid Accounts and T1046 - Network Service Scanning. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be performed to ensure the effectiveness of implemented controls, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability.