CVE-2013-4717
📋 TL;DR
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in OTRS Help Desk allow authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands. This affects OTRS versions 3.0.x before 3.0.22, 3.1.x before 3.1.18, and 3.2.x before 3.2.9. Attackers could potentially read, modify, or delete database content.
💻 Affected Systems
- Open Ticket Request System (OTRS) Help Desk
📦 What is this software?
Otrs by Otrs
Otrs by Otrs
Otrs by Otrs
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete database compromise leading to data theft, privilege escalation, or system takeover via SQL injection to RCE chaining.
Likely Case
Unauthorized data access, ticket manipulation, or customer information disclosure by authenticated attackers.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper input validation, parameterized queries, and database permissions.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access. Multiple vectors increase attack surface.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 3.0.22, 3.1.18, or 3.2.9
Vendor Advisory: https://web.archive.org/web/20130817120539/http://www.otrs.com/de/open-source/community-news/security-advisories/security-advisory-2013-05/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Backup database and configuration. 2. Download patched version from OTRS website. 3. Follow OTRS upgrade documentation. 4. Restart OTRS services. 5. Verify functionality.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation Enhancement
allAdd additional input validation for affected parameters
# Requires code modification - review and sanitize user inputs in affected modules
Database Permission Restriction
allLimit database user permissions to minimum required
REVOKE DROP, CREATE, ALTER FROM otrs_user;
GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE ON specific_tables TO otrs_user;
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall with SQL injection rules
- Restrict authenticated user access to minimum required functionality
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check OTRS version via admin interface or by examining installed filesCheck Version:
perl -e 'use Kernel::Config; print $Kernel::Config::VERSION;'Verify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 3.0.22+, 3.1.18+, or 3.2.9+ and test affected functionality📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SQL queries in database logs
- Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by SQL errors
Network Indicators:
- SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests to OTRS endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="otrs_logs" AND ("SQL" OR "database error" OR "syntax error")