A recent vulnerability has been found in AeroCMS v..1, which allows attackers to perform SQL Injection attacks via the post_category_id parameter at \admin\includes\edit_post.php. This vulnerability, dubbed as CVE-2022-45529, allows malicious hackers to access sensitive database information, potentially leading to data theft and unauthorized actions on affected systems.

In this post, we will discuss the details of this vulnerability, how to exploit it, and how to protect your AeroCMS installation against such attacks. We will also provide code snippets and links to original references to help you understand the issue better.

Vulnerability Details

AeroCMS v..1 is a lightweight content management system designed for small websites. However, it was found to be vulnerable to SQL Injection attacks, specifically in the "edit_post.php" file. The vulnerability arises from improper input validation of the "post_category_id" parameter, which is passed unsanitized to SQL queries. As a result, an attacker can craft malicious input containing SQL statements to manipulate the underlying database.

Exploit:
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to craft a specific payload to be submitted as the post_category_id parameter. This payload can include SQL Injection techniques such as UNION SELECT, WHERE, and LIKE statements.

Here's an example payload to demonstrate the exploit

1' UNION SELECT 1,2,3,4,5,6 FROM information_schema.tables WHERE table_name LIKE 'aero_users'-- -

By injecting this payload into the vulnerable post_category_id parameter at \admin\includes\edit_post.php, an attacker can potentially retrieve sensitive information, such as user credentials or email addresses, from the AeroCMS database.

Original References

- CVE details
- AeroCMS GitHub Repository

Defense and Mitigation

If you are using AeroCMS v..1, it is essential to take immediate steps to patch the vulnerability and protect your website. Follow these steps to secure your AeroCMS installation:

1. Update AeroCMS to the latest version if available, as the developers might have fixed the vulnerability in newer releases.

2. Avoid using the post_category_id parameter in a manner that allows untrusted and unvalidated input to be processed.

3. Use prepared statements and parameterized SQL queries to ensure that user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being employed in SQL queries. Here's a sample code snippet demonstrating a prepared statement in PHP:

$stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM aero_posts WHERE post_category_id = ?");
$stmt->bind_param("i", $post_category_id);

4. Employ input validation techniques like input sanitization, input filtering, and input escaping to prevent malicious data from being processed by your application.

5. Regularly check for security updates and patches for your software stack to ensure that you are protected against known vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the AeroCMS v..1 SQL Injection Vulnerability (CVE-2022-45529) is a severe security issue that could compromise your website's data and functionality. By following best practices and applying appropriate security measures, you can protect your AeroCMS installation from exploitation by malicious attackers. Stay vigilant and be proactive in addressing security vulnerabilities to maintain a secure and robust web presence.

Timeline

Published on: 11/22/2022 21:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/23/2022 15:36:00 UTC