CVE-2020-21176 in ThinkJS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/02/2021
SQL injection vulnerability in the model.increment and model.decrement function in ThinkJS 3.2.10 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the step parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-21176 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the ThinkJS framework version 3.2.10, specifically affecting the model.increment and model.decrement functions. This vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization of the step parameter, which is used to specify the increment or decrement value in database operations. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands through crafted step parameter values, potentially leading to unauthorized database access and data manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of user-supplied input within the database abstraction layer of ThinkJS. When developers utilize the increment and decrement functions with user-provided step values, the framework fails to properly escape or parameterize these inputs before incorporating them into SQL queries. This creates an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can be directly concatenated into the SQL execution string, bypassing normal security mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a classic example of insecure data handling in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with extensive database manipulation capabilities. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to read sensitive information, modify or delete database records, execute administrative commands, or even escalate privileges within the database system. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in cloud environments or applications with public-facing interfaces. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.005 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, as attackers can leverage this flaw to obtain database credentials or access database management interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-21176 require immediate action including upgrading to ThinkJS version 3.2.11 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries for all database operations, ensuring that user-supplied data is never directly concatenated into SQL statements. Additionally, database access should be restricted through proper privilege management, implementing the principle of least privilege to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual database access patterns and SQL query anomalies that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web application security and reinforces the necessity of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.