CVE-2023-1522 in Security Center
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2023
SQL Injection in the Hardware Inventory report of Security Center 5.11.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1522 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Hardware Inventory report functionality of Security Center 5.11.2. This issue resides in the web application layer where user-supplied input is improperly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. The vulnerability specifically affects the reporting module that generates hardware inventory data, making it accessible to attackers who can manipulate the input parameters to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper parameterization of database queries, creating an avenue for malicious actors to bypass authentication mechanisms and directly access sensitive data within the security center's database infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard SQL injection attack patterns where an attacker can append malicious SQL code to report parameters to manipulate the database query execution. The affected Hardware Inventory report functionality likely processes user input through URL parameters or form fields that are subsequently used in SQL statements without proper sanitization or parameter binding. This allows attackers to inject SQL fragments that can alter the query logic, potentially leading to data extraction, modification, or deletion of database contents. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to hardware inventory data including system configurations, network details, and potentially sensitive operational information that security center users rely upon for system monitoring and threat detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential system compromise and business disruption. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could access comprehensive hardware inventory information that may reveal system architecture details, network topology, and device configurations that would otherwise remain protected. The exposure of such information could facilitate more sophisticated attacks targeting specific hardware vulnerabilities or network weaknesses within the organization's infrastructure. Organizations utilizing Security Center 5.11.2 may face regulatory compliance issues if sensitive data is accessed or compromised, particularly in environments governed by standards such as iso 27001, pci dss, or other security frameworks that mandate protection of inventory and configuration data. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1566 which involves credential access through various attack vectors including database exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-1522 should prioritize immediate patching of the Security Center 5.11.2 software to address the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations must implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase to prevent similar issues from occurring in other modules. Network segmentation and database access controls should be enforced to limit the potential damage from any successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls and database activity monitoring tools can provide additional layers of protection against SQL injection attacks targeting the affected reporting functionality. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls for database users and regularly audit database access logs to identify any unauthorized access attempts.