Summary
Insufficient input validation in the PowerSYSTEM Center report designer may allow an authenticated user to execute SQL commands they are not authorized to run. The risk arises when report input is incorporated into SQL processing without adequate safeguards.
Insufficient input validation in the PowerSYSTEM Center report designer may allow an authenticated user to execute SQL commands they are not authorized to run. The risk arises when report input is incorporated into SQL processing without adequate safeguards.
Affected context
The issue is described in the PowerSYSTEM Center report designer. It may be present where authenticated users can supply or modify report-related input that is used in SQL operations without effective validation or safe query handling. The available description does not specify which fields or database operations are affected.
The issue is described in the PowerSYSTEM Center report designer. It may be present where authenticated users can supply or modify report-related input that is used in SQL operations without effective validation or safe query handling. The available description does not specify which fields or database operations are affected.
Exploit preconditions
- Attack surface: The PowerSYSTEM Center report designer and its SQL-related input handling
- Required access: An authenticated account with access to the relevant report functionality
- Trigger point: Processing report input that reaches a database query
- Why exploitation is possible: Insufficient input validation may allow user-controlled input to alter SQL commands
- Attack surface: The PowerSYSTEM Center report designer and its SQL-related input handling
- Required access: An authenticated account with access to the relevant report functionality
- Trigger point: Processing report input that reaches a database query
- Why exploitation is possible: Insufficient input validation may allow user-controlled input to alter SQL commands
Why this happens
The reported weakness is insufficient validation of input used by the report designer in SQL operations. If input is combined with query logic in a way that allows it to change the intended command, an authenticated user may cause unauthorized SQL execution. This behavior maps to CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection').
The reported weakness is insufficient validation of input used by the report designer in SQL operations. If input is combined with query logic in a way that allows it to change the intended command, an authenticated user may cause unauthorized SQL execution. This behavior maps to CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection').
Potential impact
- An attacker may execute SQL commands beyond their intended authorization
- Sensitive database information could be exposed or altered
- Database records or application data could be disrupted
- Depending on database permissions and deployment controls, broader system impacts could occur
- An attacker may execute SQL commands beyond their intended authorization
- Sensitive database information could be exposed or altered
- Database records or application data could be disrupted
- Depending on database permissions and deployment controls, broader system impacts could occur
General mitigation guidance
Mitigation generally focuses on keeping user-controlled input separate from SQL command structure.
Common defensive patterns include:
- Using parameterized queries or other safe query-building APIs
- Applying allowlist validation where report fields or query options have constrained formats
- Avoiding direct concatenation of untrusted input into SQL statements
- Limiting database accounts and application functions to the privileges they require
- Applying authorization checks to report creation, editing, and execution
Mitigation generally focuses on keeping user-controlled input separate from SQL command structure.
Common defensive patterns include:
- Using parameterized queries or other safe query-building APIs
- Applying allowlist validation where report fields or query options have constrained formats
- Avoiding direct concatenation of untrusted input into SQL statements
- Limiting database accounts and application functions to the privileges they require
- Applying authorization checks to report creation, editing, and execution
How teams detect issues like this
Useful detection approaches include:
- Static analysis for SQL statements built through string concatenation with user-controlled values
- Code review of report input paths, query construction, and authorization checks
- Testing that unexpected input cannot alter query structure
- Policies requiring parameterized database access and least-privilege database accounts
Automated code review tools may help identify risky query-building patterns.
Useful detection approaches include:
- Static analysis for SQL statements built through string concatenation with user-controlled values
- Code review of report input paths, query construction, and authorization checks
- Testing that unexpected input cannot alter query structure
- Policies requiring parameterized database access and least-privilege database accounts
Automated code review tools may help identify risky query-building patterns.
