CVE-2020-5841 in OpMon
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in OpServices OpMon 9.3.1-1. Using password change parameters, an attacker could perform SQL injection without authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-5841 resides within OpServices OpMon version 9.3.1-1, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the application's authentication mechanisms. This issue manifests through the password change functionality, where the application fails to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into database queries. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database without requiring valid authentication credentials, effectively bypassing the system's security controls.
This SQL injection vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization practices within the password change parameter handling code. The flaw operates under CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a persistent weakness in application security, where user-supplied data is directly concatenated into SQL query strings without adequate escaping or parameterization. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input sequences that manipulate the SQL execution flow, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data, modifying database records, or even executing administrative commands on the database server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to perform extensive reconnaissance and lateral movement within the affected system. Without authentication requirements, threat actors can systematically probe the database structure, extract user credentials, customer information, and other sensitive organizational data. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, and potential regulatory violations under compliance frameworks such as gdpr and hipaa. Additionally, the attack surface expands significantly as this flaw affects the application's core user management functionality, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-5841 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected OpServices OpMon version to the latest available release that addresses the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application's codebase, particularly in areas handling user authentication and password management. Network segmentation and database access controls should be enforced to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, with adherence to secure coding practices that align with owasp top ten and nist cybersecurity framework guidelines. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege implementation and regular security updates to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in third-party software components.