CVE-2024-7071: Brain Low-code SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2024-7071 Overview

CVE-2024-7071 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting Brain Information Technologies Inc. Brain Low-Code platform. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, specifically through Hibernate ORM (CWE-564). This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially leading to complete compromise of data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or potentially achieve remote code execution through database-level attacks.

Affected Products

• Brain Low-Code versions before 2.1.0
• brainlowcode:brain_low-code (all versions prior to patched release)

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-08-27 - CVE-2024-7071 published to NVD
• 2024-08-30 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-7071

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability in Brain Low-Code exploits weaknesses in how the application handles user-supplied input when constructing Hibernate Query Language (HQL) queries. Unlike traditional SQL injection, Hibernate-based SQL injection (CWE-564) targets the ORM layer, where malicious input can manipulate HQL statements that are subsequently translated into raw SQL queries.

The vulnerability requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely over the network. An attacker can leverage this flaw to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data from the database, modify or delete critical records, and potentially escalate to operating system-level access depending on database configuration and privileges.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-7071 lies in the improper handling of user input within Hibernate ORM queries in the Brain Low-Code platform. When user-controlled data is concatenated directly into HQL query strings without proper parameterization or sanitization, attackers can inject malicious query fragments. This is a common vulnerability pattern in applications that build dynamic queries using string concatenation rather than using Hibernate's prepared statement capabilities with named or positional parameters.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, requiring no user interaction or prior authentication. Attackers can craft malicious HTTP requests containing SQL injection payloads targeting input fields, URL parameters, or API endpoints that interact with the database through Hibernate ORM. The payloads are designed to break out of the intended HQL query context and inject attacker-controlled SQL statements.

The exploitation typically involves identifying injection points in the application's input handling, testing for blind or error-based SQL injection indicators, and then crafting payloads to extract data using techniques such as UNION-based injection, time-based blind injection, or out-of-band data exfiltration. Given the Hibernate context, attackers may also leverage HQL-specific syntax to navigate object relationships and access related entities.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7071

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database query patterns including UNION SELECT statements, time-based delays (SLEEP, WAITFOR), or stacked queries in application logs
• HTTP request logs containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, semicolons, double dashes, or SQL keywords in unexpected parameters
• Database error messages exposed in application responses indicating query syntax errors
• Unexpected data access patterns or bulk data retrieval from the database

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules to identify and block malicious payloads targeting Brain Low-Code endpoints
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns, especially queries with unusual structure or unauthorized data access
• Enable detailed application logging for Brain Low-Code instances and monitor for SQL-related error messages or exceptions
• Utilize SentinelOne's Singularity platform to detect post-exploitation behavior such as unauthorized file access, credential dumping, or lateral movement following successful database compromise

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure alerts for database errors in application logs, particularly those referencing HQL or Hibernate query failures
• Monitor network traffic for suspicious patterns targeting Brain Low-Code application endpoints
• Implement database audit logging to track all queries executed against production databases
• Review access logs for Brain Low-Code administrative interfaces for unauthorized access attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7071

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Brain Low-Code to version 2.1.0 or later immediately to remediate this vulnerability
• If immediate patching is not possible, restrict network access to Brain Low-Code instances using firewall rules or network segmentation
• Review database user privileges associated with Brain Low-Code and apply principle of least privilege
• Enable additional logging and monitoring on affected systems to detect exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Brain Information Technologies Inc. has addressed this vulnerability in Brain Low-Code version 2.1.0. Organizations running affected versions should prioritize upgrading to this patched release. Additional technical details regarding this vulnerability are available through the USOM Security Notification TR-24-1349.

Workarounds

• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection detection capabilities as a defense-in-depth measure
• Restrict network access to Brain Low-Code instances to trusted IP ranges only using firewall rules
• Apply database-level restrictions to limit the operations the application database user can perform
• Consider placing the application behind a reverse proxy with request inspection capabilities to filter potentially malicious requests