CVE-2018-17831 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been discovered in REDAXO versions prior to 5.6.3, affecting the prepareQuery function within the rex_list class.

Understanding CVE-2018-17831

What is CVE-2018-17831?

This CVE identifies a critical SQL injection vulnerability in REDAXO versions before 5.6.3, specifically targeting the prepareQuery function in the rex_list class.

The Impact of CVE-2018-17831

The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the sort parameter in the URL (index.php?page=users/users) to execute SQL injection attacks, posing a risk to both backend and frontend areas utilizing rex_list.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-17831

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from improper input validation in the prepareQuery function within the rex_list class in REDAXO versions prior to 5.6.3.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: REDAXO versions before 5.6.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can manipulate the sort parameter in the URL to inject malicious SQL queries, potentially leading to data theft or manipulation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade REDAXO to version 5.6.3 or later to mitigate the SQL injection vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict user input to prevent unauthorized SQL injection attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by REDAXO promptly to address vulnerabilities and enhance system security.