CVE-2022-45805 in Paytm Payment Gateway Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/03/2023
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in Paytm Paytm Payment Gateway paytm-payments allows SQL Injection.This issue affects Paytm Payment Gateway: from n/a through 2.7.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2024
The CVE-2022-45805 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the paytm payment gateway component that enables malicious actors to manipulate database queries through improper neutralization of special elements. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection attacks where untrusted data is directly incorporated into sql commands without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The flaw exists within the paytm payment gateway software version range from an unspecified starting point through version 2.7.3, indicating a prolonged period during which the vulnerability remained unaddressed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the gateway's failure to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into sql command structures. When payment processing requests are submitted through the paytm payment gateway, the system accepts parameters that should be treated as data rather than executable commands. Attackers can exploit this by injecting malicious sql code through input fields such as transaction identifiers, user credentials, or payment amounts. The improper neutralization allows these special sql characters to be interpreted by the database engine rather than being treated as literal data, potentially enabling unauthorized database access, data manipulation, or complete database compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential financial fraud and system compromise. An attacker could leverage this sql injection to extract sensitive customer information including personal identification details, payment records, and financial data stored within the paytm payment gateway database. The vulnerability also poses risks for data integrity manipulation where attackers might alter transaction records, modify user accounts, or even escalate privileges within the affected system. Given that this vulnerability affects a payment gateway component, the potential for financial loss and regulatory compliance violations is substantial, particularly in environments governed by pci dss standards where payment card data must be protected through specific security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-45805 should prioritize immediate patching of the paytm payment gateway to version 2.7.4 or later where the sql injection vulnerability has been resolved. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout their payment processing systems to prevent similar vulnerabilities from manifesting in other components. The remediation process should include comprehensive code reviews focusing on sql command construction and input handling practices. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to ensure that no other sql injection vulnerabilities exist within the payment processing infrastructure, aligning with att&ck framework techniques that target credential access and privilege escalation through database exploitation.