CVE-2024-6671 in WhatsUp Gold
Summary
by MITRE • 08/30/2024
In WhatsUp Gold versions released before 2024.0.0, if the application is configured with only a single user, a SQL Injection vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to retrieve the users encrypted password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-6671 affects WhatsUp Gold network monitoring software versions prior to 2024.0.0, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the authentication mechanisms of the application. This issue specifically manifests when the software operates with a single user configuration, creating a unique attack surface that adversaries can exploit without requiring prior authentication credentials. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the application's database interaction components, allowing malicious actors to manipulate SQL queries through crafted input parameters.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection flaw enables attackers to construct malicious database queries that bypass normal authentication checks and directly access user account information. When WhatsUp Gold processes user authentication requests, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL command structures. This weakness permits an unauthenticated attacker to inject malicious SQL code that can extract sensitive information from the underlying database, specifically targeting the encrypted password storage mechanism. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no prior access credentials to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network monitoring tools are deployed with minimal security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-6671 extends beyond simple credential theft, as the extracted encrypted passwords could potentially be subjected to offline cracking attacks or used as part of broader network infiltration strategies. Attackers may leverage the compromised credentials to gain unauthorized access to network monitoring systems, potentially enabling them to manipulate monitoring data, disable security alerts, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing injection flaws and weak authentication mechanisms. The attack vector aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and defense evasion domains, where adversaries seek to obtain system credentials and maintain persistent access.
Organizations utilizing affected WhatsUp Gold versions should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches released in the 2024.0.0 version, which address the SQL injection vulnerability through proper input validation and parameterized query implementations. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of the monitoring system to untrusted networks, while monitoring for anomalous database access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and follows the CWE classification for SQL injection vulnerabilities, specifically CWE-89, which emphasizes the need for secure coding practices in database query construction. System administrators should also consider implementing additional authentication layers and regularly auditing user access permissions to minimize the potential impact of credential compromise.