CVE-2024-48177: Mrcms SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2024-48177 Overview

CVE-2024-48177 is a SQL injection vulnerability in MRCMS 3.1.2, a Java-based content management system. The flaw exists in the /admin/article/delete.do endpoint, where the RID parameter is passed to a backend database query without proper sanitization. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can inject arbitrary SQL statements over the network. Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying database. The issue is classified as [CWE-89] Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL statements against the MRCMS database, enabling data theft, record tampering, and potential administrative takeover.

Affected Products

MRCMS 3.1.2
Administrative interface at /admin/article/delete.do
Deployments exposing the admin console to untrusted networks

Discovery Timeline

2024-10-28 - CVE-2024-48177 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-48177

Vulnerability Analysis

MRCMS is an open-source Java content management framework. The vulnerable endpoint /admin/article/delete.do handles article deletion requests submitted by authenticated administrators. The handler accepts a RID parameter that identifies the article record to remove. The application concatenates this parameter directly into a SQL statement rather than binding it as a parameterized value.

An attacker with valid low-privilege credentials can supply crafted input in RID to break out of the intended query context. This enables execution of attacker-controlled SQL, including UNION-based data extraction, boolean and time-based blind queries, and destructive statements. Because the endpoint operates under the database credentials assigned to the CMS, the attacker inherits full read and write access to the MRCMS schema.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input validation and lack of prepared statements in the article deletion handler. The RID parameter is treated as trusted server-side data despite being user-controlled. This aligns with [CWE-89], where unsanitized user input reaches a SQL interpreter.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to the MRCMS admin interface and an authenticated session with permission to invoke the delete action. The attacker issues an HTTP request to /admin/article/delete.do with a malicious RID value containing SQL syntax. No user interaction is required. Additional technical discussion is available in the GitHub Issue Discussion.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-48177

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /admin/article/delete.do containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, SLEEP(, or SELECT in the RID parameter.
Unexpected database errors or long query response times originating from the article delete handler.
Administrative sessions issuing high volumes of delete requests with varying RID values, consistent with blind SQL injection.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall signatures that flag SQL syntax in numeric parameters submitted to MRCMS admin endpoints.
Enable database query logging and alert on statements referencing MRCMS tables that contain injected clauses or comment sequences.
Correlate authentication logs with admin endpoint access to identify low-privilege accounts probing article management functions.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor outbound data volume from the MRCMS database host for signs of bulk exfiltration.
Track schema changes and unexpected DROP, UPDATE, or INSERT operations against the article and user tables.
Review admin panel access logs for requests originating from unusual geographies or IP ranges.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-48177

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict access to /admin/ routes using network controls, VPN, or IP allowlisting until a patched build is available.
Rotate credentials for all MRCMS administrative accounts and enforce strong, unique passwords.
Review database audit logs for evidence of prior exploitation of the RID parameter.

Patch Information

No vendor advisory or fixed release has been published in the referenced sources at the time of writing. Track the upstream project and the GitHub Issue Discussion for remediation status. Organizations relying on MRCMS 3.1.2 should evaluate migrating to an actively maintained CMS if no fix is issued.

Workarounds

Place a reverse proxy or WAF in front of MRCMS with rules that reject non-numeric values in the RID parameter.
Apply the principle of least privilege to the database account used by MRCMS, removing DROP and cross-database rights.
Disable or remove unused administrative accounts to reduce the pool of credentials an attacker can leverage.

bash

# Example nginx rule to constrain RID to digits
location /admin/article/delete.do {
    if ($arg_RID !~ "^[0-9]+$") {
        return 400;
    }
    proxy_pass http://mrcms_backend;
}