CVE-2019-3576 in inxedu
Summary
by MITRE
inxedu through 2018-12-24 has a SQL Injection vulnerability that can lead to information disclosure via the deleteFaveorite/ PATH_INFO. The vulnerable code location is com.inxedu.os.edu.controller.user.UserController#deleteFavorite (aka deleteFavorite in com/inxedu/os/edu/controller/user/UserController.java), where courseFavoritesService.deleteCourseFavoritesById is mishandled during use of MyBatis. NOTE: UserController.java has a spelling variation in an annotation: a @RequestMapping("/deleteFaveorite/{ids}") line followed by a "public ModelAndView deleteFavorite" line.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3576 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the inxedu learning management system version dated 2018-12-24. This vulnerability specifically targets the deleteFavorite functionality exposed through the PATH_INFO endpoint, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The flaw manifests in the UserController class where the deleteFavorite method processes user requests, making it a prime target for database exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of user input within the MyBatis framework, specifically in the courseFavoritesService.deleteCourseFavoritesById method call. The vulnerable code path demonstrates a classic SQL injection pattern where user-supplied identifiers from the PATH_INFO parameter are directly incorporated into database queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This misconfiguration allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands that bypass normal authentication and authorization mechanisms, potentially enabling full database access and information disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to extract sensitive user information, course materials, and system metadata. The affected system architecture exposes a clear pathway for privilege escalation and data exfiltration, making it particularly dangerous for educational institutions that rely on such platforms for student data management. The vulnerability's presence in a core user management function means that successful exploitation could compromise the entire user database and associated learning records.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as aligning with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1041, covering data compression and encryption. Organizations should immediately implement input validation measures, including parameterized queries and proper sanitization of PATH_INFO parameters. The spelling variation in the annotation @RequestMapping("/deleteFaveorite/{ids}") suggests potential code quality issues that may indicate broader security gaps in the application's development practices, warranting comprehensive code review and remediation efforts.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the vulnerable inxedu version, implementation of web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, and comprehensive input validation at all entry points. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities throughout their application stack and establish robust monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process must also address the underlying code quality issues that contributed to this vulnerability, including proper parameter handling and consistent naming conventions to prevent future security flaws.