CVE-2024-50716: Smart Agent SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2024-50716 Overview

CVE-2024-50716 is a SQL injection vulnerability discovered in Smarts-srl Smart Agent version 1.1.0. This vulnerability exists in the /sendPushManually.php component, where the id parameter is not properly sanitized before being used in database queries. A remote attacker can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the affected system without authentication.

SQL injection vulnerabilities of this nature allow attackers to manipulate database queries, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data manipulation, or complete system compromise through code execution.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit the unsanitized id parameter in /sendPushManually.php to execute arbitrary code, potentially compromising the entire system without requiring authentication.

Affected Products

• Smarts-srl Smart Agent v1.1.0 (Pro edition)
• Smarts-srl Smart Agent v1.1.0 (QoE edition)

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-12-27 - CVE-2024-50716 published to NVD
• 2025-04-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-50716

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists due to improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands within the Smart Agent application. The vulnerable endpoint /sendPushManually.php accepts user-supplied input through the id parameter without adequate validation or sanitization.

When malicious SQL statements are injected through this parameter, they are directly concatenated into the database query string and executed against the backend database. This allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to bypass application logic and directly interact with the database engine.

The vulnerability can be exploited to extract sensitive data from the database, modify or delete existing records, or in some configurations, execute system commands through database features such as xp_cmdshell in SQL Server or LOAD_FILE/INTO OUTFILE in MySQL.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the failure to implement proper input validation and parameterized queries (prepared statements) in the /sendPushManually.php component. The application directly incorporates user-controlled input from the id parameter into SQL queries without escaping special characters or using safe query construction methods.

This represents a fundamental secure coding violation where user input is trusted and passed directly to the database layer, allowing attackers to break out of the intended query context and inject their own SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests to the /sendPushManually.php endpoint with specially crafted values in the id parameter.

The exploitation flow typically involves:

1. The attacker identifies the vulnerable endpoint and parameter through reconnaissance
2. Malicious SQL syntax is injected through the id parameter via GET or POST requests
3. The application constructs a SQL query using the unsanitized input
4. The malicious SQL executes against the database with the application's privileges
5. The attacker receives data through error messages, UNION-based extraction, or blind techniques

For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, see the Packet Storm File Release for additional technical details and proof-of-concept information.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-50716

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database queries or errors in application logs related to /sendPushManually.php
• HTTP requests containing SQL keywords (SELECT, UNION, INSERT, DROP, etc.) in the id parameter
• Unexpected database access patterns or queries executing outside normal application behavior
• Web server logs showing requests with encoded SQL injection payloads targeting the vulnerable endpoint

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in the id parameter
• Implement database activity monitoring to alert on anomalous queries originating from the Smart Agent application
• Configure IDS/IPS signatures to detect common SQL injection attack patterns in HTTP traffic
• Enable detailed logging for the /sendPushManually.php endpoint to capture all parameter values

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor web server access logs for requests to /sendPushManually.php with suspicious parameter values
• Set up alerts for database errors that may indicate injection attempts (syntax errors, privilege violations)
• Track database query execution times and patterns for anomalies that may indicate data exfiltration
• Review application logs regularly for signs of exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-50716

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the Smart Agent application to trusted IP addresses only
• Implement a WAF with SQL injection protection rules in front of the application
• Review and audit database privileges used by the Smart Agent application, applying least privilege principles
• Monitor logs closely for any signs of exploitation while awaiting a vendor patch

Patch Information

At the time of this writing, no official vendor patch information is available in the CVE data. Organizations should monitor the Smarts SRL website for security updates and patch releases. Consider contacting the vendor directly for remediation guidance.

Workarounds

• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF to filter and sanitize all input to the /sendPushManually.php endpoint
• If the push notification feature is not critical, consider disabling or removing the /sendPushManually.php component entirely
• Implement network segmentation to isolate the Smart Agent application from sensitive systems
• Apply database hardening by removing dangerous functions and restricting the application's database user privileges

# Example WAF rule for ModSecurity to block SQL injection in the id parameter
SecRule ARGS:id "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:100001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    log,\
    msg:'SQL Injection detected in id parameter - CVE-2024-50716',\
    tag:'CVE-2024-50716'"