CVE-2020-18476 in HuCart
Summary
by MITRE • 08/27/2021
SQL Injection vulnerability in Hucart CMS 5.7.4 via the basic information field found in the avatar usd_image field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2021
The SQL injection vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-18476 affects Hucart CMS version 5.7.4 and represents a critical security flaw that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through improper input validation. This vulnerability specifically resides within the basic information field of the avatar usd_image parameter, making it accessible through user-controlled input points that are typically used for image upload functionality. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate database queries by injecting SQL code into the image field, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data or compromising the entire database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user input within the avatar image handling mechanism. When users upload profile images or avatars, the system fails to properly escape or validate the data entered in the usd_image field, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL payloads. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate user functionality to bypass security controls, making detection more challenging for system administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, potentially enabling full database compromise and persistent access to sensitive information. Attackers can exploit this flaw to extract user credentials, personal information, financial data, or proprietary business information stored within the CMS database. The vulnerability also provides opportunities for privilege escalation, allowing unauthorized users to gain administrative access to the content management system. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005 which covers application layer protocol usage, specifically targeting web application vulnerabilities that enable data exfiltration and system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-18476 should include immediate patching of the Hucart CMS to version 5.7.5 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase to prevent similar issues in the future. Additionally, database access controls should be reviewed to ensure that the CMS database user has minimal required privileges, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database query patterns that might indicate SQL injection attempts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack.