CVE-2021-23404 in sqlite-web
Summary
by MITRE • 09/08/2021
This affects all versions of package sqlite-web. The SQL dashboard area allows sensitive actions to be performed without validating that the request originated from the application. This could enable an attacker to trick a user into performing these actions unknowingly through a Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-23404 resides within the sqlite-web package, a web interface for SQLite databases that provides a graphical dashboard for database management. This package serves as a critical interface for database administrators and developers who need to interact with SQLite databases through a web browser. The flaw manifests in the SQL dashboard functionality where the application fails to implement proper request validation mechanisms to verify the origin of incoming requests. This absence of origin validation creates a fundamental security gap that allows malicious actors to exploit the system through cross site request forgery attacks.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the lack of anti-cross site request forgery token validation within the application's request processing pipeline. When users interact with the SQL dashboard, the application should verify that requests are originating from legitimate sources within the same application context. However, the sqlite-web package does not enforce this validation, making it susceptible to CSRF attacks where an attacker can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users. This vulnerability specifically affects all versions of the package, indicating it represents a persistent flaw rather than a temporary issue that was later patched.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation as it enables attackers to perform sensitive actions within the database management interface without user knowledge or consent. An attacker could potentially execute destructive operations such as deleting tables, modifying critical data, or even injecting malicious SQL commands that could compromise the entire database system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application level where database administrators typically have elevated privileges, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or disrupt database operations.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002, which involves data from information repositories, as attackers could potentially extract sensitive data through unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability represents a critical security gap that allows attackers to leverage the trust relationship between the user and the application to perform unauthorized actions. Organizations using sqlite-web should immediately implement mitigations including the addition of proper CSRF tokens, implementation of origin validation checks, and enforcement of same-site cookies to prevent unauthorized request execution.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust CSRF protection mechanisms within the application framework. The most effective approach involves integrating anti-CSRF tokens that are generated per user session and validated on each request. Additionally, implementing proper origin header validation and utilizing the SameSite cookie attributes can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security such as request rate limiting and detailed logging of database operations to detect unauthorized activities. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the application stack. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing comprehensive security controls even in seemingly simple web applications that interface with critical database systems.