CVE-2023-49546 in Customer Support System
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2024
Customer Support System v1 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the email parameter at /customer_support/ajax.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-49546 represents a critical security flaw within the Customer Support System version 1, specifically manifesting as a SQL injection vulnerability. This weakness exists within the system's web interface at the /customer_support/ajax.php endpoint where user input is improperly handled. The vulnerability is triggered through the email parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL code into the database query execution process. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-89 SQL Injection as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, which categorizes it as a severe security flaw that can lead to complete database compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits maliciously crafted input through the email parameter field in the ajax.php script. The system fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL queries, allowing attackers to manipulate the database structure and execute unauthorized commands. This flaw enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including but not limited to data extraction, data modification, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potentially full system compromise. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it affects a core support system component that likely handles customer data, support tickets, and other sensitive business information.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using the affected Customer Support System version 1. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to customer databases, potentially exposing personal information, support records, and other confidential data. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers may be able to modify system behavior, escalate privileges, or even establish persistent backdoors within the affected environment. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications, credential access, and data extraction, making it a multi-faceted threat that can be exploited for various malicious purposes.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address the SQL injection flaw. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application code, particularly in the email parameter handling within the ajax.php script. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious SQL injection attempts, conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components, and implement proper database access controls to limit the potential damage from any successful exploitation. Regular security testing and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to ensure that similar flaws do not exist in other parts of the application infrastructure, as SQL injection vulnerabilities often occur in multiple locations within complex web applications.