CVE-2023-5782 in OA 2017
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Tongda OA 2017 up to 11.10. Affected is an unknown function of the file /manage/delete_query.php of the component General News. The manipulation of the argument NEWS_ID leads to sql injection. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-243588. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5782 represents a critical sql injection flaw in the Tongda OA 2017 through 11.10 software suite, specifically within the General News component. This vulnerability exists in the /manage/delete_query.php file where the NEWS_ID parameter is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the sql query execution by injecting malicious sql commands through the NEWS_ID argument, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure. The vulnerability was classified as critical due to its potential for unauthorized data access, data manipulation, and complete system compromise when exploited by threat actors. The disclosure of this exploit to the public significantly increases the risk of widespread exploitation as malicious actors can leverage the known vulnerability without requiring advanced technical skills to develop custom attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this sql injection vulnerability follows standard attack patterns where user-supplied input directly influences sql query construction. When the NEWS_ID parameter is passed to the delete_query.php script, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into database queries. This lack of proper input sanitization creates a direct pathway for attackers to inject malicious sql payloads that can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even execute arbitrary commands on the underlying database server. The vulnerability specifically affects the General News functionality, suggesting that attackers could target news management systems within the organization's intranet or extranet environments, potentially accessing confidential information or disrupting business operations. This flaw aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes sql injection as a fundamental weakness in data validation and input processing within applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it represents a significant threat to organizational security posture and business continuity. Successful exploitation could lead to complete database compromise, allowing attackers to access sensitive employee information, financial records, proprietary data, or confidential communications stored within the Tongda OA system. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used office automation platform increases the potential attack surface significantly, as organizations may have multiple interconnected systems that rely on this software for business operations. Organizations using this software face the risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences due to unauthorized access to sensitive information. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts further compounds the risk, as organizations cannot rely on official patches or updates to address the vulnerability, forcing them to implement emergency mitigation strategies to protect their systems.
Organizations affected by CVE-2023-5782 should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to protect against exploitation attempts. The primary mitigation strategy involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks from succeeding. Security teams should conduct immediate vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected versions of Tongda OA and apply temporary workarounds such as web application firewalls or input filtering rules. The implementation of principle of least privilege access controls and database query monitoring can help detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable application and establish incident response procedures to quickly address any exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as critical according to industry standards requires immediate attention, as it represents a high-value target for threat actors who may leverage the public exploit to gain unauthorized access to organizational systems. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure, following the ATT&CK framework's approach to identifying and mitigating persistent threats.