External risk intelligence

NVK iBSG SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8)

CVE-2023-39807

The vulnerability exists in a user-registration portal page of an Intelligent Broadband Subscriber Gateway. This product is designed to manage network access and is typically deployed as a public-facing or edge gateway, making the registration portal reachable from the internet by design.

SQL Injection

Nvki Intelligent Broadband Subscriber Gateway

3.5

Halo Surface Signal: 5 out of 5 — more likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in the NVK Intelligent Broadband Subscriber Gateway, specifically within its user registration portal. This flaw could allow unauthorized individuals to access and manipulate sensitive information or disrupt services, as the gateway is often deployed in internet-facing network edge environments. The main concern at this time is confirming relevance and exposure within our environment.

Flaw allows unauthorized access to user data.
Matters for gateway security and data integrity.
Confirm relevance and any potential exposure.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could exploit a SQL injection vulnerability in the user registration portal of the Intelligent Broadband Subscriber Gateway by sending a specially crafted request. This could allow them to manipulate the database, potentially leading to unauthorized access or modification of user data.

Entry Condition: Attacker has network access.
Trigger Point: Vulnerable user registration parameter.
Resulting Risk: Data compromise and system control.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the affected system. When conditions allow, an attacker could potentially access, modify, or delete sensitive data stored in the database.

System database contents at risk.
SQL commands injected via parameter.
Data exposure or modification possible.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This SQL injection vulnerability in the user registration portal requires immediate attention. System owners and potentially the vendor-management team are responsible for identifying instances of NVK iBSG v3.5, assessing their exposure, and coordinating remediation. The first practical step is to locate all deployments, confirm their reachability and business criticality, and then plan mitigation based on the risk posed.

Identify accountable product owners.
Verify external reachability and business criticality.
Plan coordinated vendor remediation.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the NVK Intelligent Broadband Subscriber Gateway?

It is a network management solution used by organizations, such as hotels or public venues, to control and authenticate internet access for users. It functions as an edge gateway, typically sitting between the internal network and the public internet to manage subscriber traffic and service billing.

What does SQL injection mean for CVE-2023-39807?

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89, which occurs when software improperly handles user-supplied input before using it in database queries. In this case, the gateway's registration page does not correctly sanitize the password parameter, allowing an attacker to insert malicious SQL commands that the database then executes.

How can an attacker trigger this vulnerability?

An attacker initiates the vulnerability by sending a specially crafted HTTP request containing malicious SQL commands to the registration page. Simply visiting the portal or loading the page normally does not trigger the flaw; it requires the specific, manipulated input to be submitted through the vulnerable password parameter.

Is my deployment at risk from this vulnerability?

According to Halo Surface Signal, this gateway is often deployed as a public-facing edge device, meaning the registration portal is frequently reachable from the internet. If your iBSG v3.5 installation is accessible from outside your private network, it is at higher risk of being targeted.

What should I do if I run NVK iBSG v3.5?

Your first step is to create an inventory of all instances of the gateway within your network. Once identified, verify which systems are exposed to the internet and assess their business importance. After cataloging these devices, coordinate with your vendor-management or IT team to plan and implement the necessary security updates or configuration changes.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.