CVE-2022-28111 in PageHelper
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2022
MyBatis PageHelper v1.x.x-v5.x.x was discovered to contain a time-blind SQL injection vulnerability via the orderBy parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28111 affects MyBatis PageHelper versions ranging from 1.x.x through 5.x.x, representing a critical time-blind SQL injection flaw that specifically targets the orderBy parameter. This vulnerability resides within the pagination functionality of MyBatis applications, which are widely used in enterprise environments for database query optimization and data presentation. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied orderBy parameters that are directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper escaping or parameterization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the PageHelper library processes user input through the orderBy parameter to construct dynamic SQL queries for database sorting operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious SQL fragments through the orderBy parameter, leveraging time-based timing attacks to infer database contents and structure. The vulnerability is classified as time-blind because the attacker must rely on database response timing characteristics to extract information, making detection more challenging and the attack more sophisticated. This type of injection vulnerability falls under CWE-94, which encompasses code injection flaws, and specifically aligns with CWE-470, involving the use of insecure functions that can lead to code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly across enterprise applications that utilize MyBatis with PageHelper for pagination features. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or escalate privileges within the affected systems. The vulnerability affects applications where user input directly influences database sorting operations, making it particularly dangerous in web applications that display paginated data to users. This flaw can be exploited to bypass authentication mechanisms, access unauthorized data, or perform data manipulation attacks that could compromise entire database systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28111 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MyBatis PageHelper versions to the latest secure releases that properly sanitize input parameters. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and parameterization techniques to prevent direct injection of user-supplied values into SQL queries. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring for suspicious SQL injection patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input sanitization in database interaction components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other database interaction libraries and frameworks that may be susceptible to analogous injection attacks.