CVE-2019-12872 in dotCMS
Summary
by MITRE
dotCMS before 5.1.6 is vulnerable to a SQL injection that can be exploited by an attacker of the role Publisher via view_unpushed_bundles.jsp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12872 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the dotCMS content management platform affecting versions prior to 5.1.6. This security weakness specifically targets the view_unpushed_bundles.jsp component and can be exploited by users holding the Publisher role, demonstrating a significant privilege escalation risk within the application's access control model. The vulnerability exposes the system to unauthorized data access and potential system compromise through maliciously crafted SQL commands that bypass normal input validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection vulnerability occurs within the view_unpushed_bundles.jsp servlet where user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. This flaw aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a severe vulnerability type that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input. The specific exploitation vector involves the Publisher role user interface, suggesting that the vulnerability exists in the administrative or content management pathways rather than public-facing components, though still presenting substantial risk due to the elevated privileges associated with the Publisher role.
Operational impact assessment reveals that successful exploitation of this vulnerability could enable an attacker with Publisher privileges to extract sensitive information from the underlying database, including user credentials, content data, and system configurations. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it allows for potential data exfiltration, unauthorized content modification, and could facilitate further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as a medium severity issue within the context of the dotCMS platform indicates that while it may not be immediately exploitable by all users, the Publisher role represents a legitimate access level that could be compromised through social engineering or other attack vectors.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2019-12872 requires immediate patching of the dotCMS platform to version 5.1.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the scope of potential exploitation, ensuring that Publisher role accounts are properly secured and monitored. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the content management system. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and implementing proper input validation techniques as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, which emphasize the critical need for parameterized queries and proper authentication controls to prevent such injection attacks from compromising system integrity and data confidentiality.