CVE-2024-5276 in FileCatalyst Workflow
Summary
by MITRE • 06/25/2024
A SQL Injection vulnerability in Fortra FileCatalyst Workflow allows an attacker to modify application data. Likely impacts include creation of administrative users and deletion or modification of data in the application database. Data exfiltration via SQL injection is not possible using this vulnerability. Successful unauthenticated exploitation requires a Workflow system with anonymous access enabled, otherwise an authenticated user is required. This issue affects all versions of FileCatalyst Workflow from 5.1.6 Build 135 and earlier.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2025
The CVE-2024-5276 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Fortra FileCatalyst Workflow that exposes organizations to significant data integrity risks. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's database interaction mechanisms, allowing attackers to manipulate backend database operations through carefully crafted input parameters. The flaw exists in all versions of FileCatalyst Workflow up to and including build 135 of version 5.1.6, making it a widespread concern for organizations that have not yet updated their systems. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. This vulnerability operates under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1071.004, which involves application layer protocol manipulation, and more specifically T1566.001, covering credential harvesting through exploitation of vulnerabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires careful consideration of the application's access controls and authentication mechanisms. While the vulnerability can be leveraged by unauthenticated attackers when anonymous access is enabled within the Workflow system, it typically requires an authenticated user session for successful exploitation in environments with proper access controls. This dual exploitation path demonstrates the vulnerability's versatility and potential impact across different security configurations. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, which can result in unauthorized data modification, deletion, or creation of administrative accounts. The vulnerability does not permit data exfiltration directly through the SQL injection vector, but the ability to modify application data creates a significant risk for data integrity and system availability. The injection occurs at the database layer, bypassing application-level security controls that might otherwise prevent such modifications.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-5276 extends beyond simple data modification to encompass potential system compromise and business disruption. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can create administrative user accounts, effectively granting them persistent access to the system and bypassing normal authentication mechanisms. This capability transforms a simple data integrity issue into a potential full system compromise scenario where attackers can manipulate workflows, access sensitive data, and potentially escalate privileges within the FileCatalyst environment. Organizations utilizing FileCatalyst Workflow may experience service degradation, unauthorized data manipulation, and potential compliance violations if sensitive workflow data is compromised. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in environments where workflow automation processes handle critical business operations, as unauthorized modifications could disrupt business continuity and data processing workflows. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that the vulnerability can be exploited through anonymous access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where default configurations have not been properly secured.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5276 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security posture improvements. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest version of FileCatalyst Workflow that contains the fix for this vulnerability, as this represents the most direct and effective remediation approach. In addition to patching, administrators should implement strict access controls and disable anonymous access where possible, particularly in production environments. Network segmentation and database access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics make it particularly important to implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around administrative account creation or data modification operations. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potential SQL injection vulnerabilities within their FileCatalyst Workflow deployments and related systems. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the applied patches do not introduce regressions in existing workflow functionality while maintaining the security improvements necessary to protect against this specific vulnerability.