CVE-2024-13174: Severe SQL Injection Vulnerability in E1 Informatics Web Application

Overview

The cybersecurity world has recently been alerted to a severe vulnerability, CVE-2024-13174, affecting the E1 Informatics Web Application. This vulnerability is of significant concern due to its impact potential, which includes system compromise and data leakage. As the vendor has not yet provided a fix, users need to be aware of temporary mitigation measures to protect their systems.
The vulnerability is an SQL Injection issue, a common and potentially devastating security flaw that can allow an attacker to manipulate database queries. It is critical for organizations using E1 Informatics Web Application to understand and address this threat promptly to prevent potential breaches.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-13174
Severity: High (CVSS: 8.6)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

E1 Informatics Web Application | All versions through 20250916

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability lies in the application’s improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL Command. An attacker can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious SQL code into the application, altering the structure of the database query. This can enable them to view, modify, or delete data, potentially leading to a system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Here’s a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This is a simple example of a malicious SQL payload that an attacker might inject:

POST /login HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
username=admin' OR '1'='1'; --&password=random

In this example, the attacker is injecting an SQL statement `OR ‘1’=’1’` into the `username` field. This statement is always true, effectively bypassing the login mechanism and granting the attacker unauthorized access to the application.

Mitigation

As the vendor has not yet released a patch, organizations should implement temporary mitigation measures. One recommended approach is to use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). These tools can help detect and block SQL Injection attacks by monitoring and filtering out malicious data inputs.
Regularly reviewing and updating security policies, procedures, and tools is also essential. Training staff to recognize and respond to threats can significantly reduce the risk of a successful attack. Organizations should continue to monitor the situation for any updates from the vendor regarding a permanent fix.