CVE-2020-3984 in SD-WAN Orchestrator
Summary
by MITRE • 11/25/2020
The SD-WAN Orchestrator 3.3.2 prior to 3.3.2 P3 and 3.4.x prior to 3.4.4 does not apply correct input validation which allows for SQL-injection. An authenticated SD-WAN Orchestrator user may exploit a vulnerable API call using specially crafted SQL queries which may lead to unauthorized data access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3984 affects the SD-WAN Orchestrator software version 3.3.2 and earlier releases in the 3.3.x series, as well as versions prior to 3.4.4 in the 3.4.x line. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the system's input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within specific API endpoints, creating an avenue for malicious exploitation by authenticated users who possess legitimate access credentials to the orchestrator system. The affected environment operates within enterprise network infrastructure where SD-WAN solutions manage distributed network connections and traffic optimization across multiple geographical locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper handling of input parameters within API calls that interact with backend database systems. When an authenticated user submits specially crafted SQL queries through vulnerable endpoints, the system fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before processing them against the underlying database. This oversight allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands that can manipulate database operations and potentially execute unauthorized queries against the system's data stores. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, a well-documented weakness that has been consistently exploited in various enterprise applications. The attack vector requires an authenticated session, meaning that adversaries must first obtain legitimate credentials to the SD-WAN Orchestrator system before attempting exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access violations and can result in significant compromise of network management systems. An attacker with successful exploitation could potentially extract sensitive configuration data, user credentials, network topology information, and other critical operational details that would otherwise remain protected within the orchestrator's database. This unauthorized access capability undermines the fundamental security posture of the SD-WAN infrastructure, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as lateral movement within the network or data exfiltration. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate network policies, modify device configurations, or establish persistent access points within the managed network environment. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning, as exploitation requires legitimate access and targets network management interfaces.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to the patched versions 3.3.2 P3 and 3.4.4, which contain proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional controls such as API rate limiting, enhanced monitoring of suspicious API calls, and regular security assessments of the SD-WAN management interfaces. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not disrupt existing network operations while maintaining the enhanced security posture. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough audits of all API endpoints within the SD-WAN ecosystem to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the network management infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in enterprise security systems and the necessity of regular security updates to protect against evolving threats in network management platforms.