CVE-2013-2045

Vulnerability

An SQL injection vulnerability exists in lib/db.php of ownCloud Server 5.0.x versions prior to 5.0.6. The application does not neutralize special elements passed to SQL queries, which allows authenticated users to inject arbitrary SQL commands [1]. The vulnerable code path is reachable by any user who has valid credentials for the ownCloud instance.

Exploitation

An attacker must first authenticate to the ownCloud server with a valid user account. Once authenticated, the attacker can send crafted HTTP requests that include malicious SQL statements in parameters processed by lib/db.php. No special network position is required; the attacker simply needs to interact with the web interface or API using the authenticated session.

Impact

Successful exploitation enables the attacker to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. This could lead to unauthorized reading, modification, or deletion of data stored in the ownCloud database, including user credentials, file metadata, and application configuration. The attacker may also be able to escalate privileges or access sensitive information not intended for disclosure.

Mitigation

The vulnerability is fixed in ownCloud Server 5.0.6, released on 2013-05-14 [1]. Users on version 5.0.x must upgrade to 5.0.6 immediately. The advisory also notes that version 4.5.11 addresses a related but distinct SQL injection (CVE-2013-2046) in lib/bookmarks.php. No workaround is provided; upgrading to the patched version is the only way to eliminate the risk [1].