1. Introduction
Active Auction is vulnerable to multiple security issues, including SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). This software, written in ASP, allows attackers to inject malicious code into database queries or website content. Successful exploitation can lead to data breaches, account compromise, and potentially denial of service. Affected systems typically include web servers running Active Auction software. Impact on confidentiality is high due to potential data theft; integrity is also high as the attacker may modify data; availability could be impacted through DoS attacks.
2. Technical Explanation
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper sanitization of user-supplied data within Active Auction’s ASP scripts. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands or JavaScript code into web forms, URLs, or other input fields. The injected code is then executed by the server, potentially granting unauthorized access to the database or allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of a user’s browser. CVE-2005-1029 and CVE-2005-1030 detail these issues.
- Root cause: Missing input validation on user supplied data allows for SQL injection and XSS attacks.
- Exploit mechanism: An attacker could submit a crafted URL containing malicious SQL code to retrieve sensitive information from the database or inject JavaScript into a web page viewed by other users. For example, an attacker might use
http://example.com/auction.asp?search= - Scope: Active Auction software running on ASP platforms is affected. Specific versions are not explicitly stated in the available information but all versions prior to a fix are assumed vulnerable.
3. Detection and Assessment
Confirming vulnerability requires checking the installed version of Active Auction and assessing its configuration for input validation weaknesses. A thorough assessment involves attempting to exploit known vulnerabilities.
- Quick checks: Check the application’s ‘About’ page or configuration files for the version number.
- Scanning: Nessus, OpenVAS, or similar vulnerability scanners may identify these issues using signatures related to ASP SQL injection and XSS. These are examples only.
- Logs and evidence: Examine web server logs (e.g., IIS logs) for suspicious patterns such as unusual SQL queries or attempts to inject JavaScript code into URLs or form submissions. Look for error messages related to invalid input or database errors.
4. Solution / Remediation Steps
Due to a lack of publicly available information, a definitive solution is currently unknown. However, general mitigation steps for SQL injection and XSS vulnerabilities should be followed.
4.1 Preparation
- Ensure you have a rollback plan in place, including restoring from backup if necessary. A change window may be required depending on the size of the application and potential impact.
4.2 Implementation
- Step 1: Review all ASP scripts for user input points (e.g., form fields, URL parameters).
- Step 2: Implement robust input validation to ensure that only expected data types and formats are accepted.
- Step 4: Encode output to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
4.3 Config or Code Example
Before
<%
Dim strSearch
strSearch = Request.QueryString("search")
Set rs = conn.Execute("SELECT * FROM Products WHERE ProductName LIKE '" & strSearch & "%'")
%>After
<%
Dim strSearch
strSearch = Request.QueryString("search")
Set cmd = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Command")
cmd.ActiveConnection = conn
cmd.CommandText = "SELECT * FROM Products WHERE ProductName LIKE ?"
cmd.Parameters.Append cmd.CreateParameter("@Search", adVarChar, adParamInput, , strSearch & "%")
Set rs = cmd.Execute
%>4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability
Several security practices can help prevent this type of vulnerability.
- Least privilege: Limit the database user’s permissions to only those necessary for Active Auction to function, reducing potential damage from SQL injection.
- Input validation: Validate all user-supplied data on both the client and server sides to ensure it conforms to expected formats and lengths.
- Safe defaults: Configure Active Auction with secure default settings whenever possible.
4.5 Automation (Optional)
Automation is difficult without a detailed understanding of the application’s codebase. Static code analysis tools may help identify potential vulnerabilities, but manual review is still required.
5. Verification / Validation
- Post-fix check: Verify that attempting to inject malicious SQL code into URL parameters or form fields no longer results in database errors or unauthorized access.
- Re-test: Re-run the earlier detection methods (e.g., manual testing, vulnerability scanning) to confirm that the vulnerabilities are no longer present.
- Monitoring: Monitor web server logs for suspicious patterns or error messages related to SQL injection or XSS attacks.
6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring
Proactive measures can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.
- Baselines: Update security baselines or policies to include requirements for input validation, output encoding, and parameterized queries.
- Pipelines: Integrate static code analysis (SAST) tools into the CI/CD pipeline to identify potential vulnerabilities early in the development process.
- Asset and patch process: Implement a regular patch management cycle to ensure that all software components are up-to-date with the latest security fixes.
7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back
Applying input validation and output encoding may introduce compatibility issues or unexpected behavior in some cases.
- Risk or side effect 2: Changes to the application’s codebase may introduce new bugs or vulnerabilities. Mitigation: Careful code review and regression testing.
- Roll back: Restore from backup if necessary. Revert any changes made to ASP scripts.
8. References and Resources
Links only to sources that match this exact vulnerability.
- Vendor advisory or bulletin: https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2005/Apr/85
- NVD or CVE entry: CVE-2005-1029, CVE-2005-1030