Overview
In the world of cybersecurity, one vulnerability can cause a domino effect, triggering a series of unwanted consequences. One such vulnerability is the CVE-2024-13955, a second-order SQL injection vulnerability that affects ASPECT, NEXUS, and MATRIX series. This vulnerability is significant because it allows unintended access and manipulation of database repositories once administrator credentials are compromised. This could potentially result in system compromise or data leakage, posing a significant threat to the privacy and security of users and organizations.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2024-13955
Severity: High (8.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: High (Administrator-level access)
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
ASPECT-Enterprise | Through 3.*
NEXUS Series | Through 3.*
MATRIX Series | Through 3.*
How the Exploit Works
The exploit takes advantage of a 2nd order SQL injection vulnerability. In this case, an attacker who compromises the administrator credentials can inject malicious SQL commands into the system. These commands are stored and then executed later, allowing the attacker to manipulate database repositories. This can lead to access to sensitive data, modification of data, or even potential system compromise.
Conceptual Example Code
This is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This example involves a malicious SQL command embedded in a seemingly harmless HTTP request:
POST /login HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
username=admin&password=' OR '1'='1';--In this example, the attacker uses the SQL Injection vulnerability to bypass the login mechanism by injecting a SQL command into the password field. The SQL command `’ OR ‘1’=’1′;–` is always true, thus allowing the attacker to bypass the login mechanism and gain access to the system with administrator-level privileges.
How to Mitigate
Organizations can mitigate this vulnerability by applying the vendor patch. In case the patch is not available or can’t be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation method. These systems can detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. However, they should not be considered as a long-term solution. The ultimate solution is to patch the system and ensure that it is updated with the latest security fixes.