External risk intelligence

Hongjing e-HR SQL Injection Allows Database Access

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.3)

CVE-2023-54399

The vulnerability exists in an e-HR (human resources) system via a web servlet endpoint. Such enterprise web applications are commonly deployed as internet-facing portals to allow employees and administrators remote access to HR functions, making the endpoint reachable from the public internet in typical deployment scenarios.

SQL Injection

Halo Surface Signal: 4 out of 5 — likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

This advisory details a critical SQL injection vulnerability in Hongjing e-HR systems, discovered by Shadowserver Foundation. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to access sensitive database information, potentially including user credentials. The main concern is confirming the relevance and exposure of this specific e-HR system within the organization.

An unauthenticated attacker can access sensitive data.
This system manages critical human resources information.
Confirm relevance and exposure of the affected system.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted request to the `/servlet/codesettree` endpoint. This request, containing a malicious SQL query in the `categories` parameter, bypasses security checks after specific encoding is removed. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to extract sensitive information from the database, potentially including user credentials.

Unauthenticated remote access required.
SQL injection in `categories` parameter.
Read sensitive database information.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

A SQL injection vulnerability exists in an e-HR system that could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to read arbitrary database content, including sensitive credential tables, under conditions where the application's web endpoint is exposed externally.

Database content, including user credentials.
Via unsanitized query parameter on exposed web endpoint.
Unauthorized access to sensitive employee data.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The Hongjing e-HR SQL injection vulnerability is likely to affect internal HR systems, potentially impacting application owners responsible for HR software and infrastructure teams managing the underlying servers. The immediate priority is to identify all instances of the affected e-HR system, confirm its internet reachability and business criticality, and then ascertain the accountable owner for remediation planning.

Identify system owners and scope.
Verify internet exposure and criticality.
Plan coordinated vendor remediation.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Hongjing e-HR software used for?

Hongjing e-HR is an enterprise-grade human resources management system. Organizations use it to centralize sensitive employee records, manage payroll, track attendance, and facilitate administrative HR functions. Because it serves as a backend for personnel data, it often acts as a portal for both employees and administrators to access private information.

What does the SQL injection in CVE-2023-54399 mean?

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89, or Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. It occurs because the software fails to sanitize input in the 'categories' parameter before sending it to the database. An attacker can use this flaw to inject their own database commands, tricking the system into revealing unauthorized information, such as protected credential tables.

How is the vulnerability in the codesettree endpoint triggered?

An attacker triggers this bug by sending a crafted network request to the '/servlet/codesettree' endpoint. The malicious payload is inserted into the 'categories' parameter. The flaw persists because the application strips away HRMS-specific encoding, leaving the underlying malicious SQL commands unsanitized and ready for the database to execute. Requests that do not contain these specifically crafted SQL payloads will not trigger the vulnerability.

Do I need to worry if my Hongjing e-HR instance is not on the internet?

Halo Surface Signal indicates that while the vulnerability is critical, the primary risk involves the accessibility of the web servlet. Systems deployed as internet-facing portals are significantly more reachable by remote, unauthenticated attackers. If your instance is strictly internal, it remains a risk, but it lacks the direct path from the public internet that often defines the highest levels of concern.

What are the first steps for managing this security issue?

Begin by auditing your infrastructure to identify all instances of Hongjing e-HR software within your environment. Once identified, verify which systems are reachable from the internet versus those confined to internal networks. Document the business criticality of these systems and coordinate with the designated application owners to prioritize the software for vendor-supplied security updates or configuration hardening.

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.