CVE-2023-2681 in Jorani
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
An SQL Injection vulnerability has been found on Jorani version 1.0.0. This vulnerability allows an authenticated remote user, with low privileges, to send queries with malicious SQL code on the "/leaves/validate" path and the “id” parameter, managing to extract arbritary information from the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2681 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Jorani application version 1.0.0, specifically targeting the leave validation functionality. This issue arises from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires only low-privilege authenticated access, making it exploitable by users who have minimal administrative rights within the system. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious SQL payloads through the "/leaves/validate" endpoint, specifically targeting the "id" parameter that serves as the primary injection vector.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to employ proper parameterized queries or input sanitization techniques when processing the id parameter in the leave validation path. This allows an authenticated user to inject arbitrary SQL commands that bypass normal access controls and execute unauthorized database operations. The flaw operates under CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as a direct result of insufficient input validation and improper query construction. When an attacker submits malicious input through the id parameter, the application's backend processes this unvalidated input directly within SQL execution contexts, enabling data extraction, modification, or deletion operations that should be restricted to authorized administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to potentially escalate privileges and access sensitive employee information, leave records, and potentially system configuration data. The authenticated nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require external network access or special tools to exploit this weakness, as they can leverage existing user accounts with minimal permissions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which describes application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting web application interfaces for data exfiltration. The impact is particularly severe in human resources management systems where the exposed data may include personal employee information, leave balances, and sensitive organizational data that could be used for social engineering attacks or insider threat exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate implementation of parameterized queries and input validation across all user-supplied parameters within the application. Organizations should enforce strict access controls and implement proper input sanitization mechanisms that filter or escape special characters that could be used in SQL injection attacks. The recommended remediation includes updating the Jorani application to a patched version that addresses this specific vulnerability, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, and conducting comprehensive code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, organizations should establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all authenticated users are subject to principle of least privilege access controls to minimize potential damage from compromised accounts.