CVE-2022-34265 in Django
Summary
by MITRE • 07/04/2022
An issue was discovered in Django 3.2 before 3.2.14 and 4.0 before 4.0.6. The Trunc() and Extract() database functions are subject to SQL injection if untrusted data is used as a kind/lookup_name value. Applications that constrain the lookup name and kind choice to a known safe list are unaffected.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2022
This vulnerability affects the Django web framework's database abstraction layer where the Trunc() and Extract() functions are susceptible to SQL injection attacks when untrusted data is used as parameters. The flaw specifically resides in how these functions handle the kind and lookup_name arguments, which are used to define database operations such as date truncation or extraction. When applications fail to properly validate or sanitize these parameters, malicious input can be injected into the SQL query execution flow, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the database backend.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within Django's database functions. The Trunc() and Extract() methods accept parameters that are directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameter binding. This creates a classic SQL injection vector where an attacker can manipulate the database operation by injecting malicious SQL fragments through the kind or lookup_name parameters. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the database abstraction layer, meaning it can bypass many application-level security controls and directly impact the underlying database system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or manipulation. Attackers could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify database structures, execute administrative commands, or even escalate privileges within the database environment. The vulnerability affects multiple Django versions including 3.2.x before 3.2.14 and 4.0.x before 4.0.6, making it widespread across the Django ecosystem. Applications that properly constrain these parameters to predefined safe lists remain unaffected, which demonstrates the importance of input validation and parameter sanitization in preventing such attacks.
Organizations should immediately update their Django installations to the patched versions to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the official security patches released by the Django project. Additionally, developers should implement strict input validation for any user-provided data used in database functions, particularly those related to Trunc() and Extract() operations. This includes using predefined enumerations or whitelists for lookup_name and kind parameters, implementing proper parameter binding techniques, and conducting thorough code reviews to identify any potential uses of these functions with untrusted input. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which describes SQL injection flaws, and represents a significant risk that could be exploited by threat actors to compromise database systems.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly broad given Django's widespread adoption in web applications. Security teams should monitor their applications for any usage of Trunc() and Extract() functions with dynamic parameters, especially in user-facing interfaces or API endpoints. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding to prevent injection attacks. Organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts of this vulnerability.