CVE-2020-13993 in Mods for HESK
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Mods for HESK 3.1.0 through 2019.1.0. A blind time-based SQL injection issue allows remote unauthenticated attackers to retrieve information from the database via a ticket.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-13993 represents a critical blind time-based sql injection flaw affecting Mods for HESK versions 3.1.0 through 2019.1.0. This vulnerability resides within the ticket handling functionality of the system, creating an exploitable entry point that allows remote attackers to extract sensitive database information without requiring authentication credentials. The flaw manifests through a time-based timing attack mechanism where malicious input causes the database to delay responses based on boolean conditions, enabling attackers to infer database contents through careful observation of response times. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of blind sql injection as defined by cwe-89 and specifically aligns with cwe-913 which addresses dynamic code evaluation vulnerabilities. The attack vector operates through the ticket submission or retrieval process where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed by the backend database. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with the capability to extract complete database schemas, user credentials, and sensitive business data through systematic time-based queries. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to implement proper input validation and parameterized queries when handling ticket-related data submissions. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform extensive reconnaissance by constructing malicious payloads that cause the database to respond with varying delays based on the truth of their injected sql conditions. This approach allows for the extraction of database contents character by character through iterative queries that manipulate response timing. The exploitation process typically involves sending specially crafted ticket data that triggers time-based responses from the database server, enabling the attacker to determine the presence of specific data patterns. According to the mitre att&ck framework, this vulnerability maps to the technique T1213.002 - Data from Information Repositories, specifically targeting database systems through injection attacks. The lack of authentication requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the application's ticket submission interface. Organizations using affected versions of Mods for HESK face significant risk of data breaches, credential theft, and potential system compromise. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the application's input handling mechanisms that requires immediate remediation. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing proper input validation, parameterized queries, and input sanitization techniques to prevent sql injection attacks. Additionally, organizations should apply the latest patches provided by the software vendor and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper database access controls to minimize the impact of such flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect unusual database access patterns that may indicate sql injection attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that all input fields are properly sanitized and that the application no longer accepts malicious sql payloads. Regular security training for development teams can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions of the application.