CVE-2023-40956 refers to a critical SQL injection vulnerability that was recently discovered in Cloudroits Website Job Search version 15.. This flaw, if exploited by a remote authenticated attacker, can allow them to execute arbitrary code on the underlying system via the "name" parameter in the controllers/main.py component. In this post, we will discuss the details of CVE-2023-40956, how the exploit works, and provide guidance on mitigating the vulnerability.

CVE-2023-40956 Exploit Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first need to authenticate to the vulnerable application. Once authenticated, the attacker can then craft a malicious payload that includes arbitrary SQL statements and injects it into the job search query via the "name" parameter. For example, the payload might look like this:

"John');DROP TABLE users;--"

Upon submitting the payload as a search value, the SQL injection point in the controllers/main.py code will execute the injected SQL statements. This will ultimately allow the attacker to perform unauthorized actions on the database, such as exfiltrating data or executing further SQL commands to compromise the system.

Here is a snippet of affected code in the controllers/main.py component

@api.route('/job/search', methods=['POST'])
def job_search():
    search_name = request.form.get('name')
    conn = sql.connect(database)
    cur = conn.cursor()
    cur.execute("SELECT * FROM jobs WHERE name LIKE '%" + search_name + "%';")  # Vulnerable SQL query
    results = cur.fetchall()
    conn.close()
    return jsonify(results)

As we can see, the vulnerable SQL query is constructed by concatenating the search_name value directly into the query string without any input validation or parameterization. This leaves the code vulnerable to SQL injection attacks.

Original References

- CVE-2023-40956
- National Vulnerability Database
- Cloudroits Website Job Search v.15.

Mitigation Steps

To protect their applications against CVE-2023-40956, developers should implement the following best practices:

1. Use prepared statements or parameterized SQL queries instead of constructing SQL query strings through string concatenation.

For example, in the Python code snippet provided above, the vulnerable SQL query could be replaced with the following parameterized query using the execute method:

`

2. Validate and sanitize all user input to ensure that it does not contain any dangerous characters or SQL code. Specifically, in the case of CVE-2023-40956, developers should validate the contents of the "name" parameter and remove any SQL-specific characters or keywords.

3. Regularly scan your codebase for security vulnerabilities using tools like OWASP Dependency Check or Snyk.

4. Stay informed about new vulnerabilities by subscribing to security mailing lists, monitoring posts from vendors, and following vulnerability databases.

5. Apply security patches and updates promptly, as well as regularly review and monitor logs for any anomalies or signs of compromise.

Conclusion

CVE-2023-40956 is a serious security vulnerability in Cloudroits Website Job Search v.15. that demonstrates the importance of properly handling user input and protecting against SQL injection attacks. By understanding how this exploit works and implementing the recommended mitigation steps, developers can significantly reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities affecting their applications in the future.

Timeline

Published on: 09/15/2023 00:15:07 UTC
Last modified on: 09/19/2023 19:19:23 UTC