CVE-2020-37008: EasyPMS Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2020-37008 Overview

EasyPMS 1.0.0 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows unprivileged users to manipulate SQL queries in JSON requests to access admin user information. Attackers can exploit weak input validation by injecting single quotes in ID parameters and modify admin user passwords without proper token authentication. This vulnerability combines broken access control (CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) with SQL injection techniques to achieve unauthorized administrative access.

Critical Impact

Unprivileged attackers can bypass authentication controls and gain administrative access by exploiting SQL injection in JSON request parameters, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Affected Products

• EasyPMS 1.0.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-29 - CVE CVE-2020-37008 published to NVD
• 2026-01-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2020-37008

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability exploits a fundamental flaw in how EasyPMS handles user authorization and input validation. The application fails to properly verify that users are authorized to access or modify resources belonging to other users, specifically administrative accounts. This Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) pattern, classified under CWE-639, allows attackers to manipulate ID parameters in JSON requests to reference admin user records they should not have access to.

The vulnerability is network-accessible and requires only low privileges to exploit, meaning any authenticated user on the system can potentially escalate their access to administrative levels. The attack does not require user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant or shared hosting environments.

Root Cause

The root cause is twofold: improper authorization checks combined with insufficient input sanitization. The application does not validate that the requesting user has permission to access or modify the specified user record. Additionally, the lack of parameterized queries allows SQL injection through the ID parameter, enabling attackers to craft malicious payloads that bypass intended access controls. The absence of proper token-based authentication for sensitive operations like password changes further exacerbates the vulnerability.

Attack Vector

The attack is conducted over the network and targets the JSON API endpoints that handle user management functions. An attacker with basic user credentials can craft a malicious JSON request containing SQL injection payloads in the ID parameter field. By injecting single quotes and SQL syntax, the attacker can manipulate the underlying database query to return administrative user information or directly modify admin account passwords.

The attack flow typically involves:

1. Authenticating as a low-privilege user
2. Intercepting or crafting a JSON request to a user management endpoint
3. Injecting SQL payload in the ID parameter (e.g., single quote injection)
4. Extracting admin user information or modifying admin credentials
5. Gaining full administrative access to the system

Technical details and proof-of-concept information can be found in the Exploit-DB entry #48858 and the VulnCheck Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2020-37008

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages in application logs indicating injection attempts
• Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by successful admin access from the same source
• JSON requests containing single quotes or SQL keywords in ID parameter fields
• Unexpected password changes for administrative accounts

Detection Strategies

• Monitor JSON API endpoints for malformed ID parameters containing SQL injection patterns
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts in JSON payloads
• Enable detailed logging on user management API endpoints to capture suspicious request patterns
• Deploy database activity monitoring to detect unauthorized queries against user tables

Monitoring Recommendations

• Alert on any password modification requests that lack proper authorization tokens
• Track and correlate user session activity to identify privilege escalation patterns
• Monitor for bulk user data extraction attempts from the application database
• Implement anomaly detection for API request patterns targeting user management functions

How to Mitigate CVE-2020-37008

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade EasyPMS to a patched version if available from the vendor
• Implement network segmentation to limit access to the EasyPMS application
• Audit all administrative accounts for unauthorized password changes
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules

Patch Information

Consult the Elektra Web Homepage for official patch information and updated software releases. Review the VulnCheck Advisory for additional remediation guidance and vendor response details.

Workarounds

• Implement strict input validation and parameterized queries at the application layer if source code access is available
• Deploy a reverse proxy with request filtering to sanitize JSON payloads before they reach the application
• Restrict network access to EasyPMS to trusted IP addresses only until a patch is applied
• Implement additional authentication requirements for administrative operations, such as multi-factor authentication