CVE-2019-16696 in phpipam
Summary
by MITRE
phpIPAM 1.4 allows SQL injection via the app/admin/custom-fields/edit.php table parameter when action=add is used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2019-16696 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within phpIPAM version 1.4, a widely used IP address management solution that serves as a centralized platform for network administrators to manage IP address allocations, subnets, and related network infrastructure data. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's administrative custom fields functionality, where attackers can manipulate the table parameter through the edit.php endpoint when the action parameter is set to add. The flaw resides in the application's insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms, which fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. This oversight creates a direct pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the backend database, potentially compromising the entire network management system and exposing sensitive IP address information, subnet configurations, and associated network data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the table parameter within the app/admin/custom-fields/edit.php script, where the application constructs database queries without adequate protection against SQL injection attacks. When an attacker sets the action parameter to add and provides malicious input through the table parameter, the application fails to validate or sanitize this input before executing database operations. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in application security where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization. The attack vector leverages the application's trust in user input without sufficient validation, allowing attackers to construct malicious SQL statements that can execute with the privileges of the database user account used by phpIPAM.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data exposure, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform complete database manipulation including data retrieval, modification, deletion, and potentially unauthorized access to administrative functions. Network administrators who rely on phpIPAM for critical IP address management tasks face significant risks including unauthorized network access, data breaches, and potential disruption of network services. The vulnerability's presence in the administrative custom fields functionality means that attackers could not only access sensitive IP information but also modify the application's configuration, potentially creating backdoors or altering network management policies. This risk is particularly concerning given that phpIPAM is often deployed in environments where it serves as a central repository for network infrastructure data, making it a valuable target for both external attackers and insider threats.
Organizations utilizing phpIPAM version 1.4 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patch that addresses this specific SQL injection vulnerability, ensuring all administrative functions undergo proper input validation and parameterized queries, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the administrative interfaces. Security measures should include disabling unnecessary administrative functions, implementing strict access controls, and monitoring database activities for suspicious query patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly in the context of preventing injection attacks and maintaining proper input validation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the network management infrastructure, as this vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient input sanitization in administrative interfaces can lead to complete system compromise.