CVE-2021-41920 in webTareas
Summary
by MITRE • 10/08/2021
webTareas version 2.4 and earlier allows an unauthenticated user to perform Time and Boolean-based blind SQL Injection on the endpoint /includes/library.php, via the sor_cible, sor_champs, and sor_ordre HTTP POST parameters. This allows an attacker to access all the data in the database and obtain access to the webTareas application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-41920 represents a critical security flaw in webTareas version 2.4 and earlier, where an unauthenticated attacker can exploit a time and boolean-based blind SQL injection vulnerability within the application's backend processing. This vulnerability specifically targets the /includes/library.php endpoint and affects three HTTP POST parameters: sor_cible, sor_champs, and sor_ordre. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, allowing malicious SQL commands to be injected into the database query execution flow. This type of injection vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which classifies SQL injection as a widespread and dangerous weakness in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized database access without requiring any authentication credentials. Through the blind SQL injection technique, an attacker can systematically extract database contents by observing response times for time-based attacks or by inferring data through boolean responses. This methodology allows for the complete compromise of the application's data integrity and confidentiality, potentially exposing sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and application configuration details. The vulnerability directly enables data exfiltration and can serve as a foothold for further lateral movement within the application's infrastructure.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which involves data from information repositories, specifically targeting database systems. The exploitation process would involve crafting malicious payloads that manipulate the SQL queries executed by the application, using the three vulnerable parameters to construct injection attacks. The time-based approach leverages the application's response timing to infer information, while the boolean-based method uses conditional responses to determine data characteristics. This vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in the application's security architecture, as it allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely and gain direct access to the underlying database system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-41920 must include immediate patching of the webTareas application to version 2.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent similar issues in the future. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of vulnerable endpoints. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also establish proper application security training for developers to prevent injection flaws in future development cycles. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against database-level attacks.