CVE-2020-24673 in Symphony Plus Operations
Summary
by MITRE • 12/23/2020
In S+ Operations and S+ Historian, a successful SQL injection exploit can read sensitive data from the database, modify database data (Insert/Update/Delete), execute administration operations on the database (such as shutdown the DBMS), recover the content of a given file present on the DBMS file system and in some cases issue commands to the operating system. This can lead to a loss of confidentiality and data integrity or even affect the product behavior and its availability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw affecting s operations and s historian database systems that enables attackers to execute arbitrary database commands through improperly sanitized input fields. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries, creating an environment where malicious actors can manipulate the underlying sql execution flow. According to cwe standards, this maps directly to cwe 89 sql injection which is classified as a high severity weakness due to its potential for extensive data compromise and system control.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to perform a comprehensive range of database operations that span across multiple security domains. Successful exploitation enables unauthorized data reading from database tables containing sensitive information such as user credentials, operational data, and business-critical records. Attackers can also modify existing database content through insert update and delete operations, potentially corrupting critical system data or altering operational parameters. The vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to include administrative database operations that could shut down the entire database management system, effectively causing denial of service conditions.
The impact of this vulnerability extends into the realm of operating system level command execution in certain scenarios, allowing attackers to read files from the database server's file system and potentially execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. This escalation capability represents a significant security risk as it can enable attackers to move laterally within the network infrastructure and access additional system resources beyond the database layer. The compromised confidentiality and integrity of the data can lead to complete system takeover scenarios where attackers gain persistent access to sensitive operational environments.
From an operational perspective this vulnerability fundamentally undermines the security posture of industrial control systems that rely on s operations and s historian platforms for critical data management and historical record keeping. The potential loss of availability through database shutdown operations can directly impact operational continuity and safety-critical processes that depend on these systems for monitoring and control functions. Organizations implementing these solutions face significant risk exposure where attackers could manipulate system behavior through database corruption or unauthorized command execution, potentially leading to operational disruptions or safety incidents.
Mitigation strategies should include comprehensive input validation and parameterized query implementation to prevent sql injection attacks at the application level. Database administrators should implement principle of least privilege access controls to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional vulnerabilities in the database interface components. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. According to attack technique descriptions in the mitre att&ck framework, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving sql injection and privilege escalation through database manipulation, emphasizing the need for layered defense approaches that address both application-level and infrastructure-level security controls.