CVE-2023-38995 in SCHUHFRIED
Summary
by MITRE • 02/07/2024
An issue in SCHUHFRIED v.8.22.00 allows remote attacker to obtain the database password via crafted curl command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-38995 affects SCHUHFRIED version 8.22.00 and represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to extract database passwords through specifically crafted curl commands. This issue falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities, where unauthorized parties can gain access to sensitive authentication credentials that are typically protected within the system's database layer.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of authentication requests within the SCHUHFRIED application's web interface. When attackers submit crafted curl commands containing maliciously formatted parameters or headers, the system fails to properly sanitize these inputs before processing database authentication requests. This vulnerability creates an attack surface where database credentials can be inadvertently exposed through the application's response mechanisms, allowing attackers to extract the password used for database connections.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations using SCHUHFRIED v.8.22.00 as it directly compromises database security. The exposure of database passwords enables attackers to establish direct database connections, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized data modification, or complete system compromise. The remote nature of this attack means that threat actors can exploit the vulnerability from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20: Improper Input Validation and CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information, as it demonstrates both inadequate validation of user inputs and potential exposure of sensitive data. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004: Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1566: Phishing, as attackers may use this weakness to escalate privileges and move laterally within networks. The attack chain typically involves reconnaissance to identify the vulnerable system, followed by crafting of malicious curl commands to extract credentials, and finally exploitation to gain unauthorized database access.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of SCHUHFRIED where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing proper input validation controls, and restricting access to database connection endpoints. Network segmentation and monitoring of curl command usage can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and ensure that database credentials are properly protected through encryption and access control mechanisms. Regular security updates and vulnerability scanning should be implemented as part of the organization's overall security posture to prevent similar incidents.