SQL Injection in SocialEngine

[High-Tech Bridge Security Research <advisory@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Advisory ID: HTB23286
Product: SocialEngine
Vendor: Webligo
Vulnerable Version(s): 4.8.9 and probably prior
Tested Version: 4.8.9
Advisory Publication:  December 21, 2015  [without technical details]
Vendor Notification: December 21, 2015 
Public Disclosure: April 6, 2016 
Vulnerability Type: SQL Injection [CWE-89]
Risk Level: High 
CVSSv3 Base Score: 7.1 [CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L]
Discovered and Provided: High-Tech Bridge Security Research Lab ( 
https://www.htbridge.com/advisory/ ) 

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Advisory Details:

High-Tech Bridge Security Research Lab discovered SQL-Injection vulnerability 
in a popular social networking software SocialEngine. The vulnerability can be 
exploited to gain access to potentially sensitive information in database and 
compromise the entire website.

The vulnerability exists due to insufficient filtration of input data passed 
via the "orderby" HTTP GET parameter to "/index.php" script. A remote 
unauthenticated attacker can modify present query and execute arbitrary SQL 
commands in application's database.

A simple exploit below uses time-based SQL injection technique to demonstrate 
existence of the vulnerability. The following HTTP request will make page 
render for 99 seconds, if MySQL  server version is is equal "5":

http://[host]/blogs/?category=0&end_date=&orderby=1%20AND%20%28SELECT%20*%20FROM%20%28SELECT%28SLEEP%28IF%28MID%28version%28%29,1,1%29%20LIKE%205,99,0%29%29%29%29MTeU%29

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Solution:

Update to SocialEngine 4.8.10

More Information:
http://blog.socialengine.com/2016/01/20/socialengine-php-4-8-10-is-released/

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References:

[1] High-Tech Bridge Advisory HTB23286 - 
https://www.htbridge.com/advisory/HTB23286 - SQL Injection in SocialEngine
[2] SocialEngine - http://www.socialengine.com/ - SocialEngine is PHP community 
software that helps you build your own custom social network website. Advanced 
social networking features include blogs, photo albums, user groups and forums, 
providing complete control over the layout and functionality of your social 
network, community, forum, or portal.
[3] Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) - http://cwe.mitre.org - targeted to 
developers and security practitioners, CWE is a formal list of software 
weakness types.
[4] ImmuniWeb® - https://www.htbridge.com/immuniweb/ - web security platform by 
High-Tech Bridge for on-demand and continuous web application security, 
vulnerability management, monitoring and PCI DSS compliance.
[5] Free SSL/TLS Server test - https://www.htbridge.com/ssl/ - check your SSL 
implementation for PCI DSS and NIST compliance. Supports all types of protocols.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this Advisory is provided "as is" and 
without any warranty of any kind. Details of this Advisory may be updated in 
order to provide as accurate information as possible. The latest version of the 
Advisory is available on web page [1] in the References.