CVE-2021-3264 in cxuucms
Summary
by MITRE • 08/28/2021
SQL Injection vulnerability in cxuucms 3.1 ivia the pid parameter in public/admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2021
The CVE-2021-3264 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in cxuucms version 3.1, specifically exploitable through the pid parameter within the public/admin.php script. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category, which classifies SQL injection as a severe security weakness that allows attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code. The affected application appears to be a content management system that processes user input through the pid parameter without proper sanitization or validation, creating an avenue for unauthorized database access and potential data exfiltration.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the pid parameter in the public/admin.php endpoint. The application fails to properly escape or parameterize the input before incorporating it into database queries, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands. This flaw enables a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to unauthorized data retrieval, modification, or deletion of database records. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it operates within an administrative endpoint, potentially granting attackers elevated privileges and complete control over the application's database backend. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, or system configurations from the underlying database.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-3264 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and persistent access. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially establish a backdoor, modify application behavior, or even escalate privileges to gain administrative control over the entire CMS infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in an administrative script amplifies its danger since it may provide access to sensitive management functions and user accounts. Organizations running affected versions of cxuucms face significant risks including data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory violations, especially if the compromised data includes personally identifiable information or other regulated data types.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-3264 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks, which aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations should upgrade to the patched version of cxuucms 3.1 or apply the vendor-provided security patches immediately. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, input sanitization, and regular security audits can help detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting weak server-side input validation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive application security testing and continuous monitoring to prevent such critical flaws from being exploited in production environments.