CVE-2024-46636: NASA EOSDIS MODAPS SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2024-46636 Overview

CVE-2024-46636 is a SQL Injection vulnerability discovered in NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) MODAPS v8.1. The vulnerability exists in the category parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL queries and potentially compromise the underlying database. SQL Injection vulnerabilities (CWE-89) occur when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL queries, enabling attackers to manipulate database operations.

Critical Impact

This SQL Injection vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to potentially extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or disrupt system availability in NASA's EOSDIS MODAPS system.

Affected Products

• NASA Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) MODAPS v8.1

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-27 - CVE-2024-46636 published to NVD
• 2026-04-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-46636

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as SQL Injection (CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command). The flaw resides in the category parameter of the MODAPS application, where user-controlled input is directly incorporated into SQL queries without adequate validation or sanitization. This allows attackers to craft malicious input that modifies the intended SQL query logic.

The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. An attacker can leverage this flaw to potentially read unauthorized data from the database, modify or delete data, and in some cases execute administrative operations on the database server. Given the nature of NASA's Earth observation data systems, successful exploitation could impact data integrity and confidentiality of scientific research data.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation in the category parameter handling code. The application fails to properly sanitize or parameterize user-supplied input before constructing SQL queries, allowing special SQL characters and commands to be interpreted as part of the query structure rather than as literal data values.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker. The attacker submits specially crafted input through the category parameter that includes SQL metacharacters and commands. When the application processes this input without proper sanitization, the injected SQL code is executed against the backend database.

A typical exploitation scenario involves an attacker identifying the vulnerable parameter and using techniques such as UNION-based injection, boolean-based blind injection, or time-based blind injection to extract data or manipulate the database. Technical details and proof-of-concept information are available in the GitHub CVE-2024-46636 Exploit repository.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-46636

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL syntax patterns in web server access logs, particularly in requests containing the category parameter
• Database error messages appearing in application responses or logs indicating malformed queries
• Unexpected database queries with UNION, SELECT, or other SQL keywords in parameter values
• Abnormal database activity including mass data extraction or unauthorized data modifications

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) with SQL Injection detection rules to identify and block malicious requests
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns or unauthorized data access
• Monitor web application logs for requests containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, semicolons, or SQL keywords in parameter values
• Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL Injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on web servers and database systems to capture request parameters and query execution
• Configure alerting for database errors that may indicate SQL Injection attempts
• Implement real-time monitoring of the category parameter for suspicious input patterns
• Review application logs regularly for signs of reconnaissance or exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-46636

Immediate Actions Required

• Implement input validation and sanitization for the category parameter immediately
• Deploy web application firewall rules to block SQL Injection patterns targeting the affected parameter
• Consider temporarily disabling or restricting access to functionality that uses the vulnerable category parameter
• Review database permissions to ensure the application uses least-privilege database accounts

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available in the CVE data. Organizations should monitor NASA's security advisories and the Bugcrowd Security Report for updates on official remediation guidance. The vulnerability was reported through Bugcrowd's responsible disclosure program.

Workarounds

• Use parameterized queries or prepared statements instead of string concatenation for all database queries involving user input
• Implement strict input validation using allowlists for the category parameter to accept only expected values
• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with SQL Injection protection rules as an interim defense layer
• Apply network segmentation to limit potential impact if the database is compromised

Organizations running MODAPS v8.1 should prioritize remediation and consult the technical references available at the GitHub repository for additional details on the vulnerability characteristics.