CVE-2023-33945 in Liferay
Summary
by MITRE • 05/24/2023
SQL injection vulnerability in the upgrade process for SQL Server in Liferay Portal 7.3.1 through 7.4.3.17, and Liferay DXP 7.3 before update 6, and 7.4 before update 18 allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the name of a database table's primary key index. This vulnerability is only exploitable when chained with other attacks. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must modify the database and wait for the application to be upgraded.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the database upgrade mechanisms of Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP platforms. The weakness specifically manifests during the upgrade process when the system handles database table primary key index names, creating an avenue for malicious SQL command execution. The vulnerability affects multiple versions including Liferay Portal 7.3.1 through 7.4.3.17 and Liferay DXP 7.3 before update 6 and 7.4 before update 18, indicating a widespread impact across the product lineage. The exploit requires a multi-stage approach where attackers must first modify the database content and subsequently wait for the application upgrade process to occur, making it a sophisticated attack vector that cannot be executed immediately upon initial compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. This flaw operates at the database interaction layer where the upgrade process fails to properly validate or escape input parameters related to primary key index names. The operational impact is significant because the vulnerability exists within a privileged system context during upgrade operations, potentially allowing attackers to execute commands with elevated privileges. The requirement for chaining with other attacks demonstrates the complexity of exploitation, as attackers must establish a foothold in the database environment before the upgrade process can be leveraged for malicious execution.
The attack vector requires careful orchestration involving database modification and subsequent upgrade triggering, making it less straightforward than direct SQL injection attacks but no less dangerous. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to establish long-term access to the database infrastructure. The timing aspect of the exploit means that attackers cannot immediately execute commands but must wait for the upgrade process to occur naturally, which could be days or weeks depending on the organization's maintenance schedule. Organizations must consider this vulnerability within their broader security posture as it represents a potential backdoor mechanism that could be exploited during routine maintenance windows.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected versions and implementation of database access controls during upgrade periods. Organizations should also consider implementing database monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous upgrade activities or unexpected database modifications. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices in upgrade and maintenance processes, particularly regarding input validation and parameterized queries. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit who can trigger upgrade processes, reducing the attack surface for this specific vulnerability. Regular security assessments of upgrade procedures and database interaction points should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other system components.