CVE-2023-30555: SQL injection in sql_optimize.py explain method GHSL-2022-108

Summary

The Archery project contains multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities, that may allow an attacker to query the connected databases.

Product

Archery

Tested Version

v1.9.0

Details

SQL injection exists in the project due to unsafe user input being concatenated with a SQL query, that is passed to methods executing a query in a database. All identified issues exist due to the controller files in folder sql taking user input and not sanitizing it, which later is passed to execution. Since the controller methods are connected to and allows querying all the databases that are connected to Archery, then all databases making queries with concatenated input will be affected. In this way, one vulnerable endpoint allows for exploiting several databases. To exploit most of these SQL injections, knowledge of the exploited instance name that is defined in Archery, is needed.

Issue 8: SQL injection in sql_optimize.py explain method (GHSL-2022-108)

User input coming from the db_name in parameter value in the explain endpoint is passed to the below defined query methods of each database engine for execution.

• sql/engines/mssql.py query method on line 310.
• sql/engines/oracle.py query method on line 640.

Remediation

Escape the variables accepting user input in sql_optimize.py optimize_sqltuningadvisor method, that is db_name parameter value by using f.ex. MySQLdb.escape().

Impact

All of the issues may lead to Information Disclosure.

General remediation advice

To fix each of the issues, the best practice would be to escape the user input (as presented in Remediation section of each of the issues) or use prepared statements when executing SQL queries. Using placeholders in cursor.execute() will automatically escape the passed values. See Django documentation around executing custom SQL directly and Connections and cursors.

Generally, it is best to use prepared statements rather, but for Archery’s codebase it would be much easier to fix the issues by escaping user input, which is sufficient protection. Please consider also escaping all other variables which accept input from the user, particularly the ones from GET or POST requests.

For more information on preventing SQL injection see SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet - Primary Defenses

Credit

These issues were discovered and reported by GHSL team member @sylwia-budzynska (Sylwia Budzynska).

Disclosure Policy

This report is subject to our coordinated disclosure policy.