CVE-2023-3791 in IBOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2023
A vulnerability was found in IBOS OA 4.5.5 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function actionExport of the file ?r=contact/default/export of the component Personal Office Address Book. The manipulation leads to sql injection. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-235058 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 • 08/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-3791 represents a critical sql injection flaw within IBOS OA 4.5.5 software, specifically targeting the Personal Office Address Book component. This vulnerability exists within the actionExport function located in the file ?r=contact/default/export path, making it a targeted attack vector that can be exploited through remote access methods. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate database queries through improper input validation, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data. Security researchers have classified this issue as critical due to its potential for widespread data compromise and the fact that a public exploit has been disclosed, making it immediately actionable by threat actors. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, significantly expanding the attack surface and potential impact.
The technical implementation of this sql injection vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the actionExport function, which processes user-supplied parameters without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. This weakness creates an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the database query execution flow, potentially allowing them to extract, modify, or delete sensitive information stored within the organization's address book database. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-89 indicates it falls into the category of improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands, where user-controllable data enters the application without adequate protection. This type of vulnerability typically allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized database access, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-3791 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access within organizational networks. Successful exploitation could result in the exposure of confidential contact information, employee details, and potentially sensitive business communications stored within the address book system. The remote nature of the exploit means that organizations with exposed IBOS OA instances are immediately at risk, regardless of their network security posture. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using the specific 4.5.5 version of IBOS OA, where the lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts suggests potential gaps in security support or awareness. The presence of a public exploit (VDB-235058) accelerates the risk timeline, as threat actors can immediately deploy automated attack tools against vulnerable systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches from the vendor, if available, and implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls to block malicious sql injection attempts. Access controls should be strengthened around the vulnerable endpoint, and input validation should be enhanced to prevent sql injection payloads from reaching the database layer. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns or sql command execution attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential sql injection points within their IBOS OA installations and related systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1190 technique for exploitation of remote services, and the T1071.004 sub-technique for application layer protocol usage, highlighting the need for layered defensive measures. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and regular security audits to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts effectively.