CVE-2022-36699 in Ingredients Stock Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2022
Ingredients Stock Management System v1.0 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the id parameter at /categories/manage_category.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2022
The Ingredients Stock Management System version 1.0 contains a critical SQL injection vulnerability that poses significant security risks to organizations relying on this application for inventory management. This vulnerability exists within the categories management module where user input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. The specific flaw occurs in the id parameter of the /categories/manage_category.php endpoint, making it susceptible to malicious input that can manipulate the underlying database structure. Such vulnerabilities represent a fundamental breakdown in input validation and output encoding practices that are essential for maintaining database integrity and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information.
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 allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL code through the id parameter, potentially enabling them to extract, modify, or delete sensitive data from the database. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core functionality of the system where categories are managed, which often contains critical business information including product details, pricing structures, and inventory relationships. Attackers could leverage this weakness to escalate privileges, bypass authentication mechanisms, or gain unauthorized access to the entire database infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and business disruption. Organizations using this system may face data breaches that expose confidential information about their inventory, supplier relationships, and potentially customer data if the database contains such information. The vulnerability allows for both read and write operations against the database, meaning attackers could not only extract sensitive data but also modify or delete critical records. This could result in inventory discrepancies, financial losses, and potential regulatory violations under data protection laws. The attack surface is particularly broad since the vulnerability affects the category management functionality which is likely accessed by multiple users including administrators and regular staff members.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should immediately implement input sanitization measures that validate and filter all user-supplied data before processing. The recommended approach involves using prepared statements with parameterized queries to ensure that user input is treated as data rather than executable code. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and least privilege principles can limit the damage that can be caused by exploitation of this vulnerability. Regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues throughout the application. The system should also implement proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users, as this can aid attackers in crafting more sophisticated attacks. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping software up to date and following secure coding practices throughout the development lifecycle, as outlined in the mitre attack framework where such vulnerabilities often serve as initial access points for more extensive compromise operations.