CVE-2021-44868
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2021-44868 is a SQL injection vulnerability in ming-soft MCMS v5.1 that allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through the /ms/cms/content/list.do endpoint. This affects all systems running the vulnerable version of MCMS content management software. Attackers can potentially read, modify, or delete database content.
💻 Affected Systems
- ming-soft MCMS
📦 What is this software?
Mcms by Mingsoft
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete database compromise leading to data theft, data destruction, or full system takeover via SQL injection to RCE chaining.
Likely Case
Database information disclosure, data manipulation, and potential privilege escalation within the application.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper input validation, parameterized queries, and WAF protection in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
SQL injection vulnerabilities in web applications are commonly exploited with automated tools.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: v5.2 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/ming-soft/MCMS/issues/58
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Backup your current installation and database. 2. Download and install MCMS v5.2 or later from the official repository. 3. Restart the web application server. 4. Verify the fix by testing the vulnerable endpoint.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
WAF Rule Implementation
allDeploy web application firewall rules to block SQL injection patterns targeting the vulnerable endpoint.
# Example ModSecurity rule: SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /ms/cms/content/list.do" "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'Blocking MCMS SQLi attempt'"
# Add SQL injection detection patterns to your WAF
Endpoint Restriction
linuxRestrict access to the vulnerable endpoint using network controls or application configuration.
# Apache: <Location "/ms/cms/content/list.do"> Require ip 192.168.1.0/24 </Location>
# Nginx: location /ms/cms/content/list.do { deny all; }
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict input validation and parameterized queries in the application code
- Deploy a web application firewall with SQL injection protection rules
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Test the /ms/cms/content/list.do endpoint with SQL injection payloads like ' OR '1'='1 and monitor for database errors or unexpected responses.Check Version:
Check the MCMS version in the application's admin panel or configuration files.Verify Fix Applied:
After patching, test the same endpoint with SQL injection payloads and verify they are properly sanitized or rejected.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- SQL syntax errors in application logs
- Unusual database queries from the web application
- Multiple failed login attempts or parameter manipulation
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to /ms/cms/content/list.do with SQL keywords (UNION, SELECT, etc.)
- Abnormal database connection patterns from the application server
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND uri="/ms/cms/content/list.do" AND (query="*UNION*" OR query="*SELECT*" OR query="*OR*1*" OR status="500")