CVE-2020-17463
Fuel CMS SQL Injection Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2020-17463 is a critical-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Fuel CMS version 1.4.7. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to perform SQL injection via the col parameter to multiple administrative endpoints including /pages/items, /permissions/items, and /navigation/items. This SQL injection flaw enables unauthorized access to the underlying database, potentially leading to data exfiltration, modification, or complete system compromise. CISA has added CVE-2020-17463 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. With an EPSS score of 15.27% (94.5th percentile), this Fuel CMS vulnerability has a high probability of exploitation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| thedaylightstudio | fuel cms | 1.4.7 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158840/Fuel-CMS-1.4.7-SQL-Injection.html(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/89.html(Technical Description)
- https://getfuelcms.com(Vendor Advisory)
- https://github.com/daylightstudio/FUEL-CMS/archive/master.zip(Third Party Advisory)
- https://github.com/daylightstudio/FUEL-CMS/releases/tag/1.4.8(Release Notes, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-17463(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
SQL Injection occurs when software constructs SQL commands using externally-influenced input without properly neutralizing special elements that could modify the intended query. In Fuel CMS 1.4.7, the col parameter in the /pages/items, /permissions/items, and /navigation/items endpoints is incorporated into database queries without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL code that is executed against the underlying database.
Learn more: CWE-89 — Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command
Impact Analysis
CVE-2020-17463 carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 (CRITICAL), representing the highest severity tier. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network with low attack complexity, requires no authentication, and demands no user interaction. Confidentiality (High): attackers can extract the entire database contents including user credentials, personal information, and application data through SQL injection techniques. Integrity (High): malicious SQL queries can modify or delete database records, alter user permissions, and inject backdoor accounts. Availability (High): attackers can execute destructive SQL commands to drop tables, corrupt data, or cause denial of service. The EPSS score of 15.27% places this vulnerability in the 94.5th percentile, indicating a high likelihood of active exploitation. Organizations running Fuel CMS 1.4.7 are at critical risk, as the combination of trivial exploitability and maximum impact makes this vulnerability highly attractive to attackers.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2020-17463 has a mature exploit landscape with publicly available exploit code. Public exploit code is available for this vulnerability via Packet Storm Security, providing a ready-to-use proof-of-concept for SQL injection attacks against Fuel CMS. CISA has confirmed active exploitation in the wild through the KEV catalog, with a remediation deadline of 2022-06-10. The EPSS score of 15.27% (94.5th percentile) confirms a high probability of exploitation activity. The availability of public exploit code combined with the trivial exploitation requirements (no authentication, low complexity) makes this vulnerability easily exploitable by even low-skilled attackers.
Remediation
- Apply vendor patches immediately as mandated by CISA KEV: Apply updates per vendor instructions. Upgrade Fuel CMS to version 1.4.8 or later, which addresses the SQL injection vulnerability in the col parameter handling.
- If immediate upgrade is not possible, implement input validation and parameterized queries for the col parameter across the affected endpoints (/pages/items, /permissions/items, /navigation/items). Apply web application firewall rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in the col parameter.
- Restrict access to the Fuel CMS administrative endpoints. Implement authentication requirements and IP-based access controls for the /pages/items, /permissions/items, and /navigation/items paths to reduce the attack surface.
- Audit database logs for indicators of SQL injection exploitation, including unusual queries, unauthorized data access, or extraction of large data sets. Review application logs for suspicious requests containing SQL metacharacters in the col parameter.
- Apply the principle of least privilege to the database account used by Fuel CMS. Ensure the application database user has only the minimum permissions necessary for normal operations, preventing attackers from escalating through SQL injection to administrative database operations or operating system command execution.
Technical Details
CVE-2020-17463 is a classic SQL injection vulnerability in Fuel CMS version 1.4.7 that occurs due to improper neutralization of user input in the col parameter. The affected endpoints — /pages/items, /permissions/items, and /navigation/items — accept a col parameter that is used to construct SQL ORDER BY or column selection clauses without proper sanitization or parameterization. An attacker can inject arbitrary SQL statements through this parameter, which are then executed directly against the underlying database. The CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) reflects the maximum exploitability score of 3.9, indicating that the attack requires only network access with no authentication, no user interaction, and no special conditions. The vulnerability can be leveraged for data extraction using UNION-based or blind SQL injection techniques, enabling attackers to enumerate database structures, extract credentials, and potentially achieve command execution through database-specific features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2020-17463 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2020-17463 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation. Public exploit code is available on Packet Storm Security. The EPSS score of 15.27% (94.5th percentile) indicates a high probability of exploitation.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-17463?
CVE-2020-17463 specifically affects Fuel CMS version 1.4.7. The vulnerability is in the col parameter handling of the /pages/items, /permissions/items, and /navigation/items endpoints.
How do I fix CVE-2020-17463?
Upgrade Fuel CMS to version 1.4.8 or later, which patches the SQL injection vulnerability. As an interim measure, implement WAF rules to filter SQL injection patterns in the col parameter and restrict access to the affected administrative endpoints.
How severe is CVE-2020-17463?
CVE-2020-17463 has a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) and is in the 94.5th percentile for exploitation probability. The vulnerability requires no authentication to exploit and can lead to complete database compromise, making it an extremely severe security issue.
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