CVE-2024-1301: Badger Meter Monitool SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2024-1301 Overview

CVE-2024-1301 is a SQL injection vulnerability [CWE-89] in Badger Meter Monitool affecting versions 4.6.3 and earlier. The flaw resides in the handling of the j_username parameter during authentication. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can submit a crafted SQL payload through this parameter and extract data from the backend database. The vulnerability is reachable over the network with low attack complexity and requires no user interaction. Monitool is industrial monitoring software used to track water consumption and flow data from Badger Meter devices, making the exposed information potentially sensitive to operators and end customers.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can extract database contents from Monitool deployments through the login form, exposing credentials and operational data.

Affected Products

Badger Meter Monitool versions 4.6.3 and earlier
Deployments exposing the Monitool web interface to untrusted networks
Industrial monitoring environments integrating Monitool authentication endpoints

Discovery Timeline

2024-03-12 - CVE-2024-1301 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2025-02-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-1301

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a classic SQL injection in the authentication workflow of Monitool. The application accepts the j_username form parameter from the login request and concatenates it into a SQL statement without proper parameterization or input sanitization. An attacker submitting boolean-based, error-based, or time-based payloads can manipulate the executed query to return arbitrary records, infer data through conditional responses, or enumerate the database schema.

Because the injection point sits on a pre-authentication endpoint, exploitation requires no valid credentials. The confidentiality impact is high, while integrity and availability are not directly affected according to the published CVSS vector. Refer to the INCIBE Security Notice for the official advisory and additional vulnerabilities disclosed alongside this issue.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in a SQL command [CWE-89]. User-supplied input from the j_username parameter is interpolated into a SQL query string rather than being bound through prepared statements. This allows injected SQL syntax to alter the query's logical structure.

Attack Vector

The attack is conducted remotely over HTTP or HTTPS against the Monitool login endpoint. The attacker sends a POST request containing a malicious payload in the j_username field. Standard SQL injection tooling such as sqlmap can automate enumeration, data extraction, and credential dumping against the vulnerable parameter.

No verified exploitation code is published for this CVE. The vulnerability mechanism follows standard pre-authentication SQL injection patterns documented in OWASP guidance.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-1301

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP POST requests to the Monitool login endpoint containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, --, UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, or WAITFOR DELAY in the j_username field
Repeated authentication failures from a single source IP followed by anomalous successful queries
Outbound database connections or unusually large response payloads from the Monitool application server
User-Agent strings associated with automated tooling such as sqlmap or generic Python HTTP libraries

Detection Strategies

Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with signatures tuned for SQL injection patterns on the Monitool login path
Enable verbose query logging on the Monitool database and alert on syntactically unusual queries originating from the application service account
Correlate web server access logs with database audit logs to identify injection attempts that produced data responses

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor authentication endpoints for high entropy or non-alphanumeric content in username fields
Baseline normal query volumes from the Monitool service account and alert on deviations
Track outbound data transfer volumes from the Monitool host to detect bulk database exfiltration

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-1301

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Badger Meter Monitool to a version later than 4.6.3 once a fixed release is available from the vendor
Restrict network access to the Monitool web interface using firewall rules or VPN-only access while patching is pending
Rotate any credentials stored in the Monitool database, including operator and service account passwords
Review database audit logs for the period since deployment to identify prior exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Consult the INCIBE Security Notice for vendor remediation guidance. At publication time, no vendor advisory URL is listed in the NVD record. Contact Badger Meter support directly to confirm the fixed version and obtain upgrade instructions for your Monitool deployment.

Workarounds

Place the Monitool application behind a reverse proxy or WAF that blocks SQL injection patterns targeting the j_username parameter
Restrict the Monitool database service account to least privilege so injection cannot read sensitive tables or execute administrative statements
Segment Monitool servers from broader operational technology (OT) networks to limit lateral impact if the database is compromised
Disable or firewall the login endpoint from internet exposure until a patched release is deployed

bash

# Example: block SQL metacharacters on the Monitool login endpoint with ModSecurity
SecRule ARGS:j_username "@detectSQLi" \
  "id:1024001,phase:2,deny,status:403,\
   msg:'CVE-2024-1301 - SQL injection attempt on Monitool j_username',\
   logdata:'Matched data: %{MATCHED_VAR}'"