CVE-2023-4188 in icms2
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2023
SQL Injection in GitHub repository instantsoft/icms2 prior to 2.16.1-git.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw affecting the instantsoft icms2 repository version prior to 2161git which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands through improperly sanitized user input. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's database interaction layers where user supplied parameters are directly incorporated into sql query strings without proper escaping or parameterization. This weakness enables malicious actors to manipulate database queries by injecting sql payloads through various entry points including form fields, url parameters, or api endpoints that process user data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumeration cw089 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious input sequences that bypass standard validation checks and inject additional sql syntax into the executed queries. The impact extends beyond simple data retrieval to potentially allow full database compromise including unauthorized data modification, deletion, or extraction of sensitive information. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with access to the affected system.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted across multiple attack vectors. Adversaries can utilize techniques categorized under attack technique t10713 for application layer protocol manipulation to perform data exfiltration or database manipulation. The exploitation process typically involves identifying vulnerable input points within the application's interface and crafting payloads that exploit the sql injection weakness to gain unauthorized access to backend databases. Organizations may experience complete system compromise, data breaches, regulatory violations, and significant financial losses due to the potential for widespread unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase as recommended by owasp top ten 2021 category a03. The most effective remediation involves adopting prepared statements or parameterized queries which ensure that user input is treated as data rather than executable code. Additionally organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization processes, employ web application firewalls waf solutions to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts, and conduct regular security assessments including automated scanning and manual penetration testing. The specific fix for this vulnerability required updating the icms2 repository to version 2161git or later where proper input validation and query parameterization mechanisms were implemented to prevent sql injection attacks.