CVE-2019-4012 in BigFix WebUI Profile Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix WebUI Profile Management 6 and Software Distribution 23 is vulnerable to SQL injection. A remote attacker could send specially-crafted SQL statements, which could allow the attacker to view, add, modify or delete information in the back-end database. IBM X-Force ID: 155886.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2023
IBM BigFix WebUI Profile Management version 6 and Software Distribution version 23 contains a critical sql injection vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute unauthorized database operations. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the web application's database interaction layers. The flaw enables attackers to craft malicious sql queries that bypass normal authentication and authorization mechanisms, potentially leading to complete database compromise. The vulnerability is classified under cwe-89 sql injection, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws according to the common weakness enumeration catalog. Attackers can exploit this weakness to extract sensitive data including user credentials, system configurations, and proprietary information stored within the backend database. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as malicious actors can modify or delete critical system information, potentially disrupting business operations and compromising system integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the web user interface where user inputs are directly incorporated into sql queries without proper parameterization or input validation. This allows attackers to inject malicious sql payloads that manipulate the database query execution flow. The vulnerability affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms within the bigfix platform, potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks. According to the attack technique framework, this represents a direct path to data manipulation and unauthorized access under the attack technique id t1071.004 application layer protocol. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to implement proper input sanitization techniques such as prepared statements or parameterized queries, which are fundamental defense mechanisms against sql injection attacks. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where bigfix platforms manage critical infrastructure.
Organizations utilizing these specific versions of IBM BigFix should implement immediate mitigations to protect against potential exploitation. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released by IBM to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the affected web interface to only authorized administrative users. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts, and conducting thorough input validation at all application entry points. Database access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure least privilege principles are enforced. Monitoring and logging mechanisms should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with the attack pattern id ap0010 in the mitre attack framework, specifically targeting the execution and privilege escalation phases of an attack lifecycle. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented controls and identify potential additional attack vectors within the bigfix platform ecosystem.