CVE-2020-15533 in Application Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 10/04/2020
In Zoho ManageEngine Application Manager 14.7 Build 14730 (before 14684, and between 14689 and 14750), the AlarmEscalation module is vulnerable to unauthenticated SQL Injection attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-15533 affects Zoho ManageEngine Application Manager version 14.7 build 14730 and specific build ranges before 14684 as well as between 14689 and 14750. This security flaw resides within the AlarmEscalation module of the application management platform, which is designed to monitor and manage application performance metrics across enterprise environments. The vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database without requiring authentication credentials, effectively bypassing the application's access controls and authentication mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation within the AlarmEscalation module where user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into SQL queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This SQL injection flaw enables attackers to manipulate database queries and potentially extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even execute administrative commands on the underlying database system. The vulnerability is classified as an unauthenticated attack vector, meaning that any external party can exploit this weakness without requiring valid user credentials or prior access to the system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments that rely on Zoho ManageEngine Application Manager for critical infrastructure monitoring. Attackers could potentially gain access to sensitive operational data including application performance metrics, user information, system configurations, and other confidential data stored within the database. The attack surface is particularly concerning for organizations using this platform for monitoring mission-critical applications, as successful exploitation could lead to complete database compromise and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that have not yet applied the necessary security patches, leaving them exposed to persistent threats and potential data breaches.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches that address the SQL injection vulnerability in the AlarmEscalation module. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the affected application to untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing database query monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a technique commonly used in the attack lifecycle documented under ATT&CK tactic TA0006 (Credential Access) and TA0007 (Discovery) where adversaries attempt to extract information from databases through injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious SQL injection payloads and conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application modules that may be susceptible to similar attack vectors.