CVE-2023-26568 in IDWeb
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Unauthenticated SQL injection in the GetStudentGroupStudents method in IDAttend’s IDWeb application 3.1.052 and earlier allows extraction or modification of all data by unauthenticated attackers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-26568 represents a critical security flaw in the IDAttend IDWeb application version 3.1.052 and earlier, where an unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability exists within the GetStudentGroupStudents method. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database without requiring any authentication credentials, fundamentally undermining the application's data integrity and confidentiality controls. The flaw specifically resides in how user input is processed within the GetStudentGroupStudents method, which fails to properly sanitize or escape input parameters before incorporating them into SQL queries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection flaws as weaknesses that occur when an application incorporates untrusted data into SQL commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. This particular vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient input validation can lead to complete database compromise, as attackers can manipulate the SQL query structure to extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even execute destructive operations. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that any attacker with access to the application's network can leverage this vulnerability without needing valid credentials or privileged access.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates severe consequences for organizations using the IDAttend IDWeb application, as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to all student data stored within the database. The potential for data exfiltration includes personal information, academic records, and other sensitive student data that organizations are typically required to protect under privacy regulations such as GDPR, FERPA, or other applicable data protection laws. The ability to modify data rather than just extract it further amplifies the risk, as attackers could alter student records, manipulate attendance data, or corrupt database structures that could impact the application's functionality and reliability.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to include potential lateral movement within networks where the application is deployed, as database access often provides pathways to other systems and resources. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications, and T1071.004, which addresses application layer protocol usage for command and control communications. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by automated scanning tools or script kiddies, significantly increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-26568 should include immediate patching of the IDAttend IDWeb application to version 3.1.053 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should also implement input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application to prevent similar issues from occurring in other methods or components. Network segmentation and database access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate other potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should ensure that database users have the minimum required privileges and that proper logging and monitoring mechanisms are in place to detect unauthorized access attempts or data manipulation activities.