CVE-2023-25330: Mybatis Plus SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2023-25330 Overview

CVE-2023-25330 is a SQL injection vulnerability affecting MyBatis Plus versions below 3.5.3.1. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the tenant ID value within the TenantPlugin component. It should be noted that the vendor's position is that this vulnerability can only occur in misconfigured applications, and their documentation provides guidance on developing applications that avoid SQL injection.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands without authentication, potentially leading to complete database compromise, data exfiltration, modification, or destruction.

Affected Products

• MyBatis Plus versions below 3.5.3.1
• Applications using the TenantPlugin with improper configuration
• MyBatis MyBatis (all vulnerable versions)

Discovery Timeline

• 2023-04-05 - CVE-2023-25330 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-25330

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) resides in the tenant ID handling mechanism of MyBatis Plus's TenantPlugin feature. When applications implement multi-tenancy using MyBatis Plus without proper input validation, the tenant ID parameter becomes susceptible to SQL injection attacks. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands through the tenant ID value, which is then executed against the underlying database without proper sanitization.

The attack can be executed remotely over the network and requires no authentication or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for exposed applications. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, data manipulation, and potentially complete compromise of the database server.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of the tenant ID value within the TenantPlugin component. When the tenant ID is dynamically constructed and injected into SQL queries without adequate parameterization or input validation, it creates an injection point that attackers can exploit. The vendor acknowledges this as a misconfiguration issue, emphasizing that proper implementation following their documentation guidelines would prevent this vulnerability.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote attackers to exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the tenant ID parameter in requests to affected applications. The attacker injects malicious SQL syntax into the tenant ID field, which bypasses input validation (when improperly configured) and executes arbitrary SQL commands in the context of the database user.

The vulnerability exploitation involves crafting a malicious tenant ID value containing SQL injection payloads. When the application processes this value through the TenantPlugin, the injected SQL is concatenated into the query and executed. This can allow attackers to perform operations such as extracting sensitive data, modifying records, or even executing administrative database commands depending on the database user's privileges.

For detailed technical analysis and proof-of-concept information, refer to the GitHub MybatisPlus SQL Injection PoC.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-25330

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed tenant ID values in application logs containing SQL syntax such as UNION, SELECT, DROP, or single quotes
• Database query errors indicating SQL syntax problems potentially caused by injection attempts
• Unexpected database queries or data access patterns not matching normal application behavior
• Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized bulk data retrieval from database audit logs

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in request parameters, specifically targeting tenant ID fields
• Deploy database activity monitoring to identify anomalous queries or access patterns indicative of SQL injection exploitation
• Configure application logging to capture and alert on suspicious tenant ID values containing special characters or SQL keywords
• Utilize SentinelOne Singularity Platform to monitor for post-exploitation activities and lateral movement following database compromise

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed SQL query logging on database servers to track all executed statements
• Monitor application error logs for SQL syntax errors that may indicate injection attempts
• Implement real-time alerting for authentication failures and unusual database access patterns
• Review database audit trails regularly for evidence of unauthorized data access or modification

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-25330

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade MyBatis Plus to version 3.5.3.1 or later immediately
• Review application code to ensure tenant ID values are properly validated and parameterized
• Implement input validation to reject tenant ID values containing SQL syntax or special characters
• Follow the vendor's security guidelines as documented in the Baomidou CVE Reference

Patch Information

The vulnerability is addressed in MyBatis Plus version 3.5.3.1 and later. Organizations should upgrade to the latest stable version to receive this fix along with any additional security improvements. The vendor has published guidance on proper implementation to avoid this class of vulnerabilities, available at their official security documentation.

Workarounds

• Implement strict input validation on all tenant ID parameters, rejecting any values containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, semicolons, or SQL keywords
• Use parameterized queries throughout the application to ensure tenant ID values cannot be interpreted as SQL commands
• Apply network-level controls to limit access to affected applications while remediation is in progress
• Configure database user permissions following the principle of least privilege to minimize the impact of potential exploitation

# Configuration example - Validate tenant ID input before use
# Ensure tenant IDs are alphanumeric only
# Example validation regex pattern: ^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$
# 
# In MyBatis Plus configuration, implement TenantLineHandler
# with proper input sanitization:
# - Validate tenant ID format before processing
# - Use parameterized queries for all database operations
# - Follow vendor security guidelines at baomidou.com