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CVE-2020-17463: Critical Vulnerability in Fuel CMS

A critical SQL Injection vulnerability exists in Fuel CMS 1.4.7 that can lead to unauthorized data access. Organizations are urged to apply patches immediately to mitigate the risk.

CRITICALKnown ExploitedCVSS 9.8 · Published August 13, 2020

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CVE-2020-17463 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting Fuel CMS version 1.4.7. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the col parameter in the /pages/items, /permissions/items, or /navigation/items endpoints. With a CVSS score of 9.8, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

The critical severity classification indicates that organizations must prioritize remediation efforts. The SQL Injection flaw can allow unauthorized access to sensitive data, potentially leading to data breaches and exploitation of the underlying database.

Currently, there are no known public exploits confirmed for this vulnerability. However, given its critical nature and the potential for exploitation, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.

Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive data, data manipulation, and potential disruption of services. Immediate action is required to prevent exploitation.

As of the last update, this vulnerability remains critical and organizations are advised to stay vigilant and monitor any updates related to Fuel CMS.

Vulnerability Details

The official description states that Fuel CMS 1.4.7 allows SQL Injection via the col parameter to /pages/items, /permissions/items, or /navigation/items. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-89, indicating improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands.

With a CVSS score of 9.8, this vulnerability is classified as critical. The attack vector is network-based, requiring low complexity with no privileges required and no user interaction needed. The scope is unchanged, and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high.

The vulnerability was published on August 13, 2020, and remains relevant in the security landscape.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of the vulnerability is the lack of proper input validation in the Fuel CMS application. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary SQL queries on the database, potentially leading to unauthorized data access.

The attack vector is network-based, and the complexity is low, as no authentication is required. This means that any attacker with knowledge of the vulnerable endpoints can exploit the vulnerability without significant effort.

The vulnerability does not require user interaction, making it even easier for attackers to exploit it. If successfully exploited, the attacker could gain high levels of access to sensitive data, compromising the organization's operations.

Risk & Impact Analysis

Organizations using Fuel CMS 1.4.7 face significant risks due to this vulnerability. The potential for unauthorized access to sensitive user data, including personal information and authentication credentials, is high. This could lead to severe data breaches, financial loss, and reputational damage.

The blast radius for this vulnerability is considerable, given its potential impact on databases and the sensitive nature of the data stored within. Organizations must address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to mitigate risks effectively.

With the vulnerability included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog since December 10, 2021, organizations are urged to act swiftly. The critical CVSS score indicates an urgent need for remediation.

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

Yes

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

The vulnerability affects Fuel CMS version 1.4.7. Organizations using this version should update to the latest version provided by the vendor to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.

Mitigation & Remediation

Organizations should apply the latest patches as provided by the vendor. In the case of Fuel CMS, users should upgrade to version 1.4.8 or later. If a patch is unavailable, organizations can implement workarounds such as input validation and sanitization of user inputs in the affected endpoints.

Furthermore, network controls should be implemented to limit access to the CMS, and monitoring should be enhanced to detect any unusual activity on the application.

Organizations should also consider engaging in penetration testing methodologies to ensure that their defenses are robust against emerging threats.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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