CVE-2023-40931 in Nagios
Summary
by MITRE • 09/20/2023
A SQL injection vulnerability in Nagios XI from version 5.11.0 up to and including 5.11.1 allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the ID parameter in the POST request to /nagiosxi/admin/banner_message-ajaxhelper.php
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in nagios xi version 5110 through 5111 that enables authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands through the id parameter in post requests to the banner_message-ajaxhelperphp endpoint. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data within the web application's backend processing logic. Attackers who have gained valid authentication credentials can exploit this vulnerability to manipulate the underlying database by injecting malicious sql payloads through the id parameter. The vulnerability occurs in the banner message management functionality where the application fails to properly escape or parameterize user input before incorporating it into sql queries. This flaw falls under the common weakness enumeration cwecwe 89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities in software applications. The attack vector requires an authenticated user context, meaning that an attacker must first obtain valid login credentials to the nagios xi system before attempting exploitation. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft as it could allow attackers to escalate privileges, modify system configurations, or even gain complete control over the database server hosting the nagios xi application. According to the attack technique framework known as attack ttpstactic t1190 and t10713 the exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to perform data manipulation and potentially establish persistent access to the affected system. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire nagios xi monitoring environment as it allows unauthorized data access and modification. Organizations running affected versions of nagios xi should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper access controls. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of nagios xi that addresses this sql injection vulnerability. Additionally implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have occurred through this vulnerability. The flaw demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and highlights the risks associated with insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data in database operations. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing and the implementation of secure coding practices throughout the software development lifecycle. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security audits to prevent unauthorized access to critical system components. The vulnerability could potentially be leveraged in conjunction with other attack techniques to compromise the broader network infrastructure that relies on nagios xi for system monitoring and alerting.