CVE-2023-49548 in Customer Support System
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2024
Customer Support System v1 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the lastname parameter at /customer_support/ajax.php?action=save_user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2024
The Customer Support System version 1 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that exposes organizations to significant data breach risks through unauthorized database access. This vulnerability resides within the web application's handling of user input at the specific endpoint /customer_support/ajax.php?action=save_user where the lastname parameter is processed without adequate sanitization or validation. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query execution flow, potentially enabling full database compromise and unauthorized data manipulation. This type of vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and represents a classic example of improper input validation that creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges and access sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied input before incorporating it into database queries. When the lastname parameter is submitted through the ajax.php endpoint, the system likely concatenates this input directly into SQL command strings without appropriate filtering mechanisms. This creates a pathway for attackers to craft malicious input that can alter the intended query execution flow, potentially allowing them to extract, modify, or delete database records. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates through an AJAX endpoint, which typically requires minimal user interaction and can be exploited through automated tools. According to the CWE database, this represents a CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, which is categorized as a high-severity weakness that directly enables data exposure and system compromise.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within affected networks. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain access to customer databases containing personal information, support tickets, communication logs, and potentially system credentials that could facilitate further attacks. The vulnerability's accessibility through a web interface makes it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, potentially allowing threat actors with basic knowledge of SQL injection techniques to gain unauthorized access. This aligns with ATT&CK framework technique T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS, where attackers might leverage web application vulnerabilities to establish persistent access. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited, particularly in environments where customer data protection is mandated by regulations such as gdpr, hipaa, or pci dss.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term prevention measures to ensure comprehensive protection. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase, specifically targeting the lastname parameter handling in the ajax.php endpoint. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, while also implementing proper output encoding to prevent data exfiltration through reflected or stored XSS vectors that may compound the attack. Regular security code reviews and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the application stack, with particular attention to all user-input parameters that interact with database systems. Additionally, implementing least privilege database access controls, regular security updates, and comprehensive monitoring of database activities can provide defense-in-depth measures that reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as those outlined in the iso 27001 standard for information security management, ensuring that the fix maintains application functionality while eliminating the security risk.