CVE-2023-25196
📋 TL;DR
This SQL injection vulnerability in Apache Fineract allows authorized users to manipulate SQL queries, potentially altering or adding data in certain components. It affects Apache Fineract versions 1.4 through 1.8.2, putting financial institutions and organizations using this open-source banking platform at risk.
💻 Affected Systems
- Apache Fineract
📦 What is this software?
Fineract by Apache
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Authorized attackers could execute arbitrary SQL commands, leading to data manipulation, privilege escalation, or complete database compromise.
Likely Case
Authorized users could modify financial data, create unauthorized transactions, or access sensitive information beyond their permissions.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and parameterized queries, the risk is significantly reduced to minimal data exposure.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires authorized user access to exploit. SQL injection vulnerabilities are typically easy to exploit with basic knowledge.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.8.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://lists.apache.org/thread/m9x3vpn3bry4fympkzxnnz4qx0oc0w8m
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Backup your Fineract instance and database. 2. Download Apache Fineract 1.8.3 or later from the official Apache website. 3. Follow the upgrade documentation for your specific deployment method. 4. Restart the Fineract service after upgrade.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation Enhancement
allImplement strict input validation and parameterized queries in custom code
Database Permission Restriction
allLimit database user permissions to only necessary operations
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block SQL injection patterns
- Restrict user permissions and implement principle of least privilege for all accounts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Fineract version via admin interface or configuration files. Versions 1.4-1.8.2 are vulnerable.Check Version:
Check fineract-platform-provider/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/org.apache.fineract/fineract-platform-provider/pom.xml for versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 1.8.3 or later and test vulnerable endpoints with SQL injection test payloads.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SQL queries in application logs
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by SQL errors
- Unexpected database operations from application users
Network Indicators:
- SQL error messages in HTTP responses
- Unusual parameter patterns in HTTP requests
SIEM Query:
source="fineract_logs" AND (message="*SQL*" OR message="*syntax*" OR message="*database*error*")