CVE-2023-42243 in Visual Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 01/14/2025
In Selesta Visual Access Manager < 4.42.2, an authenticated user can access the administrative page /common/vam_Sql.php, which allows for arbitrary SQL queries.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42243 affects Selesta Visual Access Manager versions prior to 4.42.2 and represents a critical security flaw that enables authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL queries through the administrative page at /common/vam_Sql.php. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's administrative interface, creating a path for privilege escalation and potential data compromise. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for spearphishing via web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a lack of proper authentication checks and input sanitization within the vam_Sql.php endpoint. When an authenticated user accesses this administrative page, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied parameters that are subsequently incorporated into SQL queries without adequate escaping or parameterization. This allows an attacker to manipulate the SQL execution context by injecting malicious SQL commands directly through the interface, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive database information or executing destructive operations on the underlying database system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform comprehensive database reconnaissance, extract sensitive user credentials, modify or delete critical data, and potentially establish persistent access to the system. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that an attacker would need valid user credentials to leverage this vulnerability, but once accessed, the administrative capabilities could enable full system compromise. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Selesta Visual Access Manager for database management and user access control, potentially exposing sensitive organizational data and undermining the integrity of database operations.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patch for Selesta Visual Access Manager version 4.42.2 or higher to address this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive access reviews to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to administrative interfaces, implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and monitor database access logs for suspicious activities. The mitigation strategy should include network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforcement of principle of least privilege, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and systems. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper access control implementation and input validation in web applications, particularly within administrative interfaces where elevated privileges can lead to complete system compromise.