CVE-2023-2040: Critical SQL Injection Vulnerability Discovered in Novel-Plus 3.6.2

A critical vulnerability, CVE-2023-2040, has been recently discovered in Novel-Plus 3.6.2, a widely-used web application. This vulnerability affects an unknown function of the file /news/list?limit=10&offset=&order=desc and can lead to SQL injection, which may result in unauthorized access, data manipulation, and other malicious activities. The vulnerability has been reported publicly, and it is possible to use it for launching attacks remotely. The vendor was informed about the issue early but has not provided any response or solution. VDB-225918 is the unique identifier assigned to this particular vulnerability.

Vulnerability Details

The core cause of this security flaw is the improper handling of the 'sort' argument within the affected file, allowing attackers to manipulate the argument for executing crafted SQL queries. The function's improper sanitization of user inputs makes it susceptible to SQL injection attacks. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely, which worsens the situation as attackers from anywhere can take advantage of it.

Exploit Code Snippet

The following code snippet demonstrates the exploitation of this vulnerability by manipulating the 'sort' argument:

GET /news/list?limit=10&offset=&order=desc&sort=1'%20UNION%20SELECT%201,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10%20--%20 HTTP/1.1
Host: target.com

In this example, the attacker seeks to receive additional data from the database by exploiting the 'sort' parameter. As a result, potentially sensitive user data might be revealed.

Original References

- Vulnerability disclosure: Vulnerability Database (VDB) Reference
- CVE Details: CVE-2023-2040

Vendor Response

Despite attempts to contact the vendor regarding this security issue, there has been no response or solution provided. It is highly recommended for users of Novel-Plus 3.6.2 to stay updated on this vulnerability and seek alternative measures to limit the potential damage, such as installing security patches or adjusting server configurations.

Mitigation

As a temporary measure, users can implement the following suggestions to minimize the risk associated with CVE-2023-2040:

Limit user access to the affected function or implement stricter access control policies.

2. Employ input validation and sanitization techniques to prevent the passing of manipulated SQL queries.
3. Keep the application and its components up-to-date by installing the latest updates and patches from the vendor.
4. Monitor application logs for any signs of suspicious activities pointing to SQL injection-related attacks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, CVE-2023-2040 is a critical vulnerability found in Novel-Plus 3.6.2, and it enables attackers to perform SQL injection attacks by manipulating the 'sort' argument in the affected file. The vendor has not yet issued any response or fix to mitigate the vulnerability, so users are advised to follow the suggested mitigation steps and stay vigilant about any updates regarding this issue.

Timeline

Published on: 04/14/2023 09:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 04/19/2023 19:21:00 UTC