CVE-2022-30816 in elitecms
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2022
elitecms 1.01 is vulnerable to SQL Injection via /admin/edit_sidebar.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-30816 affects elitecms version 1.01 and represents a critical SQL injection flaw located within the administrative interface at the /admin/edit_sidebar.php endpoint. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data that is directly incorporated into database query constructions without proper escaping or parameterization mechanisms. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to manipulate database queries through malicious input, potentially enabling unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion operations.
This SQL injection vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The attack vector exploits the lack of proper input filtering mechanisms that should validate and sanitize all user-provided data before it is processed by the database engine. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it exists within the administrative section of the content management system, providing attackers with elevated privileges to manipulate the entire backend database infrastructure. The flaw demonstrates poor secure coding practices where dynamic query construction occurs without adequate protection against malicious input sequences that could alter the intended query execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft as it provides attackers with comprehensive database manipulation capabilities. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise including unauthorized access to sensitive user information, content manipulation, privilege escalation to other administrative accounts, and potential persistence mechanisms within the database. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire content management system, potentially exposing all data stored within the database to unauthorized access. Additionally, attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors or exfiltrate sensitive information that may include user credentials, system configurations, and business-critical data.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. The immediate fix requires sanitizing all user inputs through proper escaping mechanisms or utilizing prepared statements with parameterized queries to prevent malicious SQL code injection. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers including application-level filtering, database-level restrictions, and network-level monitoring to detect anomalous SQL patterns. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional protective layers against exploitation attempts. Regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other parts of the application. Furthermore, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security updates for the content management system will reduce the overall attack surface and improve the security posture of the affected environment. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security frameworks such as those defined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.