ResourceSpace SQLi (CVE-2019-25662)

Overview

CVE-2019-25662 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in ResourceSpace, an open-source digital asset management platform. Specifically affecting version 8.6, this flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability exists in the watched_searches.php endpoint. An attacker can send a specially crafted GET request containing malicious SQL code within the ref parameter. Because the application fails to properly validate or sanitize this input, the malicious code is executed directly by the database. This type of attack is classified as “in-band” SQL injection, where results are returned directly to the attacker.

Impact

The primary risk is complete compromise of the database. Attackers can read, modify, or delete any data the database account can access. In practical terms, this allows for the extraction of sensitive information, including administrative usernames, hashed passwords, and other confidential asset metadata stored in the system. Successful exploitation could lead to a full system takeover and data breach. For context on the real-world consequences of such breaches, recent incidents are documented in our breach reports.

Remediation and Mitigation

The most effective action is to upgrade ResourceSpace to a patched version immediately. The ResourceSpace development team addressed this vulnerability in subsequent releases. If an immediate upgrade is not possible, implement the following temporary mitigations:

• Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy or configure a WAF to block SQL injection patterns targeting the ref parameter.
• Input Validation: If you have development access, implement strict allow-list input validation for the ref parameter, rejecting any non-alphanumeric characters.
• Network Controls: Restrict network access to the ResourceSpace application to only trusted IP addresses where possible.

Security Insight

This vulnerability highlights a persistent challenge in open-source and niche applications: the lag in implementing robust parameterized queries, a well-established security standard for over a decade. Similar to the widespread SQLi flaws that plagued older versions of popular CMS platforms years ago, CVE-2019-25662 shows how foundational security practices can be missed in specific software branches, leaving them exposed to simple, high-impact attacks long after the broader community has moved on. For ongoing coverage of such vulnerabilities, follow our security news.

Further Reading

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