CVE-2021-28890 in J2eeFAST
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2021
J2eeFAST 2.2.1 allows remote attackers to perform SQL injection via the (1) compId parameter to fast/sys/user/list, (2) deptId parameter to fast/sys/role/list, or (3) roleId parameter to fast/sys/role/authUser/list, related to the use of ${} to join SQL statements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-28890 affects J2eeFAST version 2.2.1, a Java-based web application framework that provides administrative interfaces for system management. This security flaw represents a critical SQL injection vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability manifests in three distinct attack vectors within the framework's administrative endpoints, specifically targeting user management and role-based access control functionalities. The affected parameters compId, deptId, and roleId are processed through direct string concatenation mechanisms rather than proper parameterized queries, creating opportunities for malicious input injection that can manipulate database operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the framework's improper handling of user-supplied input within SQL query construction. The application utilizes ${} placeholder syntax for dynamic SQL statement building, which directly interpolates user-provided values into database queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. This approach violates fundamental security principles for database interaction and creates a direct pathway for attackers to inject malicious SQL code. The CWE-89 classification applies here, as this represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in the data access layer where user input is concatenated directly into prepared SQL statements, bypassing normal input validation controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations using J2eeFAST 2.2.1. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configuration details. The attack surface extends to the three identified endpoints, allowing exploitation across user management, role assignment, and departmental organizational structures. Attackers could perform data exfiltration, modify user permissions, escalate privileges, or even delete critical database entries. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by any remote attacker with network access to the application. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers would likely first enumerate available endpoints before exploiting this weakness.
Organizations affected by CVE-2021-28890 should immediately implement comprehensive mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves replacing the ${} interpolation syntax with proper parameterized queries or prepared statements that separate SQL command structure from user data. The framework's data access components must be updated to validate and sanitize all input parameters before processing, implementing input whitelisting mechanisms where possible. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the affected endpoints. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their application codebase to identify similar vulnerabilities in other database interaction points. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be enhanced to prevent similar issues in future deployments. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the parameterized query implementations maintain application functionality while eliminating the SQL injection vectors. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts against these endpoints.