CVE-2023-3449 in IBOS
Summary
by MITRE • 06/28/2023
A vulnerability has been found in IBOS OA 4.5.5 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function actionExport of the file ?r=recruit/interview/export&interviews=x of the component Interview Management Export. The manipulation of the argument interviews leads to sql injection. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-232546 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-3449 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the IBOS OA 4.5.5 system, specifically targeting the Interview Management Export functionality. This vulnerability exists within the actionExport function of the recruit/interview/export endpoint where the interviews parameter is improperly handled, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted input. The flaw resides in the application's failure to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql statements, directly violating fundamental security principles outlined in CWE-89 sql injection. The vulnerability's classification as critical stems from its potential to enable unauthorized database access and data manipulation, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on this workflow automation platform.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input for the interviews parameter, which then gets directly incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization measures. This creates a scenario where sql commands can be injected and executed within the database context, potentially allowing attackers to extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability's exposure through the ?r=recruit/interview/export&interviews=x URL structure indicates that it operates through the web application's standard request handling mechanism, making it accessible through normal user interactions. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 exploitation for client execution and T1071.004 application layer protocol, as it leverages web application protocols to execute malicious sql commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of recruitment data within the organization. Attackers could manipulate interview records, access confidential candidate information, or even gain deeper system access through database-level attacks. The fact that this vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and is actively being used in the wild significantly increases the risk to affected organizations, particularly those using the specific IBOS OA 4.5.5 version. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues, data breach notifications, and potential legal consequences if sensitive recruitment data is compromised. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts compounds the risk, leaving organizations without official patches or mitigation guidance during the critical period when the vulnerability is actively exploited.
Organizations affected by CVE-2023-3449 should immediately implement network-level mitigations such as web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems to block known malicious patterns targeting this specific vulnerability. The recommended immediate action involves disabling or restricting access to the vulnerable endpoint until proper patches are applied, though this may require careful consideration of business continuity requirements. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential sql injection points within the IBOS OA system, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security weaknesses in the application's input handling mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should implement proper logging and monitoring around database access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts, while also preparing for incident response procedures in case of successful compromise. The vulnerability's presence in a recruitment management system particularly raises concerns about protecting sensitive personal data, making it essential for organizations to consider regulatory compliance requirements under data protection laws such as gdpr or ccpa that may be triggered by such security incidents.