CVE-2020-13568 in phpGACL
Summary
by MITRE • 04/13/2021
SQL injection vulnerability exists in phpGACL 3.3.7. A specially crafted HTTP request can lead to a SQL injection. An attacker can send an HTTP request to trigger this vulnerability in admin/edit_group.php, when the POST parameter action is “Submit”, the POST parameter parent_id leads to a SQL injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2021
The CVE-2020-13568 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within phpGACL version 3.3.7, a widely used access control list management system for php applications. This vulnerability specifically manifests in the administrative interface at the admin/edit_group.php endpoint, where improper input validation allows malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted http requests. The flaw occurs when the application processes POST parameters without adequate sanitization, creating an exploitable pathway for unauthorized database access and potential system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate the parent_id parameter when the action parameter equals "Submit". This creates a classic sql injection scenario where attacker-controlled input directly influences the sql query execution flow. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-89 as a sql injection weakness, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Proxy Execution and T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers may leverage this flaw to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate access control settings, extract sensitive user information, or even gain administrative privileges within the phpGACL system. Given that phpGACL is commonly used for managing user permissions and access rights, a compromised instance could lead to widespread unauthorized access across applications that depend on this access control framework. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire system, as attackers could potentially modify group memberships, bypass authentication mechanisms, or execute arbitrary database commands.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the phpGACL application to version 3.3.8 or later, which includes proper input validation and parameter sanitization. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious sql injection attempts, while conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar input validation flaws. Additional protective measures include restricting administrative access to trusted networks, implementing proper database user permissions with minimal required privileges, and establishing monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized database access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper parameter handling in web applications, as highlighted in industry best practices from owasp and nist guidelines for secure coding practices.