CVE-2019-8424 in ZoneMinder
Summary
by MITRE
ZoneMinder before 1.32.3 has SQL Injection via the ajax/status.php sort parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8424 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within ZoneMinder version 1.32.3 and earlier, specifically affecting the ajax/status.php component. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the sort parameter, which is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper escaping or parameterization. The affected system processes user-supplied data through the web interface to determine sorting criteria for status information, creating an exploitable path where malicious actors can inject arbitrary SQL commands. This flaw exists within the application's data handling logic, where the sort parameter is treated as trusted input rather than validated and sanitized before being used in database operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a standard SQL injection attack pattern where an attacker crafts malicious input to manipulate the underlying database query execution. When the sort parameter is processed, the application directly concatenates user input into SQL statements, allowing attackers to inject SQL syntax that can alter query behavior. This can result in unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete database compromise. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it operates at the application layer and can be executed through standard web browser interactions without requiring elevated privileges or specialized tools.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8424 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to surveillance footage and system configuration data. Organizations using vulnerable ZoneMinder installations face risks including unauthorized viewing of security camera feeds, potential modification of system settings, and extraction of sensitive user information stored in the database. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of surveillance systems, potentially compromising security operations and violating privacy regulations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, access administrative functions, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The impact is particularly severe for organizations relying on ZoneMinder for security monitoring, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of their surveillance systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8424 require immediate patching of affected systems to ZoneMinder version 1.32.3 or later, which implements proper input validation and parameterized query construction. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the ZoneMinder web interface, deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, and conduct regular security assessments of their surveillance infrastructure. Input validation should be strengthened to reject malformed sort parameters, and all database queries should be parameterized to prevent direct input concatenation. Additionally, access controls should be enforced through proper authentication mechanisms, and regular security audits should be performed to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include monitoring for exploitation attempts and implementing intrusion detection systems to alert administrators of potential attacks targeting the vulnerable component.