CVE-2020-23282 in mConnect
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2021
SQL injection in Logon Page in MV's mConnect application, v02.001.00, allows an attacker to use a non existing user with a generic password to connect to the application and get access to unauthorized information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-23282 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the logon page of MV's mConnect application version 02.001.00. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and improper parameter handling during authentication processes, creating an avenue for malicious actors to bypass normal access controls. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's user authentication mechanism, where the system fails to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into sql queries. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input strings that manipulate the sql execution flow, allowing unauthorized access to the system's database resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common sql injection attack patterns as classified under CWE-89, which defines sql injection as the insertion of malicious sql code into input fields for execution by the database. In the context of mConnect's authentication system, when a user attempts to log in with a non-existent username and generic password, the application processes these inputs without proper sanitization. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject sql payload that can manipulate the authentication logic, potentially allowing them to bypass user validation entirely. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices where user-supplied data is directly concatenated into sql statements rather than being properly parameterized or escaped.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with potential pathways to extract sensitive data from the application's backend database. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially retrieve user credentials, personal information, system configurations, or other confidential data stored within the mConnect application. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be achieved through standard web application penetration testing techniques. This makes it particularly dangerous as it can be automated and leveraged by both skilled attackers and less sophisticated threat actors. The implications include potential data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and compromise of the entire application's security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-23282 must focus on implementing robust input validation and parameterized query execution practices. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or update to version 02.002.00 which addresses this vulnerability through proper input sanitization and sql query parameterization. Additionally, implementing proper web application firewall rules can help detect and block malicious sql injection attempts. Security measures should include regular code reviews focusing on sql query construction, input validation, and output encoding. The implementation of principle of least privilege access controls and database activity monitoring can further reduce the impact of potential exploitation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage this weakness to establish unauthorized access and potentially escalate privileges within the system. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to identify similar sql injection vulnerabilities in other application components and ensure proper security controls are in place across the entire application architecture.