CVE-2019-15557 in User Account
Summary
by MITRE
XM^online 2 User Account and Authentication server 1.0.0 allows SQL injection via a tenant key.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15557 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the XMonline 2 User Account and Authentication server version 1.0.0. This authentication server serves as a central component for managing user accounts and access control within the XMonline platform ecosystem. The vulnerability specifically manifests through improper input validation of tenant keys, which are used to identify and isolate different organizational units or customer environments within the shared authentication infrastructure. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious sql code through the tenant key parameter, potentially compromising the entire authentication system and underlying database resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization and parameterization of user-supplied input within the authentication server's query processing logic. When the system receives a tenant key value, it directly incorporates this input into sql queries without proper escaping or parameter binding mechanisms. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities arising from insufficient input validation and improper query construction. The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker who crafts a specially formatted tenant key that contains sql injection payloads, potentially allowing for unauthorized database access, data exfiltration, or even complete system compromise. Attackers may leverage this weakness to enumerate database schemas, extract sensitive user credentials, modify authentication records, or escalate privileges within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it fundamentally undermines the security foundation of the authentication system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain access to all user accounts managed by the server, leading to widespread unauthorized access across multiple tenant environments. The compromise of the authentication server creates a persistent backdoor that could allow attackers to maintain long-term access to the system while evading detection. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using XMonline 2 for multi-tenant authentication services, where a single compromised tenant key could potentially provide access to multiple customer environments, making the impact exponentially greater than a simple single-tenant breach. The vulnerability also poses risks to system availability as attackers could potentially execute destructive sql commands through the injection vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-15557 should focus on immediate patching of the affected authentication server software to implement proper input validation and parameterized queries. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that validate tenant key formats and reject malicious payloads before they reach the database layer. The implementation of proper parameter binding techniques and prepared statements should be enforced throughout the application code to prevent sql injection attacks. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the authentication server to only trusted internal systems. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application architecture. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Proxy Execution and T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers may use the compromised system to establish persistent access and potentially leverage the authentication server for further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Organizations should also implement database activity monitoring to detect anomalous sql query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.