CVE-2022-28080 in Royal Event Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 05/05/2022
Royal Event Management System v1.0 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the todate parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
The Royal Event Management System version 1.0 presents a critical security flaw that allows adversaries to execute unauthorized database operations through a carefully crafted SQL injection attack. This vulnerability specifically targets the todate parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database queries. The flaw represents a classic example of insufficient input validation where user-supplied data flows directly into SQL command construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. Such vulnerabilities fall under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it enables unauthorized access to sensitive event data, user information, and system metadata that may be stored within the database.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes the todate parameter without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. When a malicious user submits a crafted payload through this parameter, the application incorporates the input directly into SQL queries without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands. This weakness creates opportunities for data exfiltration, unauthorized data modification, and potentially complete database compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates poor secure coding practices that violate fundamental principles of input validation and database query construction. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique categorized under T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage, specifically targeting database communication channels through injection attacks. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious SQL payloads that can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract confidential information, or even execute destructive operations on the database system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized administrative access. Attackers leveraging this flaw can potentially access sensitive user credentials, event details, payment information, and other confidential data stored within the system. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for data integrity attacks where malicious actors can modify or delete critical information, disrupting business operations and potentially causing significant financial losses. Organizations relying on this system face risks of regulatory compliance violations, particularly if sensitive personal data or financial information is compromised. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal expertise to exploit, making it attractive to both skilled and less experienced threat actors. The vulnerability's persistence in a production environment without proper mitigation demonstrates a critical gap in the organization's security posture and software development lifecycle practices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements to ensure that user input is never directly incorporated into SQL commands. Additionally, comprehensive input validation should be implemented to sanitize all parameters including todate, rejecting any input that contains suspicious SQL characters or sequences. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block common SQL injection patterns, while also implementing proper output encoding to prevent reflected XSS attacks that may compound the vulnerability. Regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other application components. The system should also implement proper access controls and least privilege principles to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. Organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect anomalous SQL query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of integrating security controls throughout the software development lifecycle.