CVE-2020-24913 in QCubed
Summary
by MITRE • 03/04/2021
A SQL injection vulnerability in qcubed (all versions including 3.1.1) in profile.php via the strQuery parameter allows an unauthenticated attacker to access the database by injecting SQL code via a crafted POST request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2021
The SQL injection vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-24913 affects the qcubed framework version 3.1.1 and all earlier releases, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of database access controls. This vulnerability exists within the profile.php component of the application where user input is improperly handled, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized individuals to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. The flaw specifically manifests through the strQuery parameter which receives input from POST requests without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious POST request containing specially formatted SQL code within the strQuery parameter. This allows the attacker to bypass authentication mechanisms and directly interact with the database backend, potentially enabling data extraction, modification, or deletion operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not require authentication credentials to exploit, making it accessible to any individual who can submit a crafted request to the vulnerable application. The lack of proper input validation creates a direct pathway for SQL command injection attacks that can be leveraged to compromise the entire database infrastructure.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing qcubed framework versions prior to 3.1.1 as it fundamentally compromises database security. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, financial records, and other confidential information stored within the database. The vulnerability also enables privilege escalation attacks where attackers might gain administrative access to the database, allowing them to modify or delete critical system data. Additionally, the exposure of underlying database structures through SQL injection can provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance information for further attacks against the system infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 related to application layer protocol manipulation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper output encoding to prevent SQL injection attacks. The recommended approach involves upgrading to the patched version of qcubed framework, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive security testing to identify potential additional vulnerabilities. Database access controls should be reviewed and restricted to minimize the impact of successful exploitation attempts, while application logging should be enhanced to detect and respond to suspicious database access patterns. Regular security audits and penetration testing are essential to maintain the security posture of applications built on the qcubed framework.