FineractApplication · Apache
CVE-2024-23538
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedImproper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in Apache Fineract.This issue affects Apache Fineract: <1.8.5. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 1.8.5 or 1.9.0, which fix the issue.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · moderate confidenceSQL injection vulnerability in Apache Fineract allows remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands through unsanitized input parameters. Given the CVSS 9.8 critical rating and Fineract's role as a banking/microfinance platform, successful exploitation could enable complete database compromise including theft or manipulation of sensitive financial data.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data
FineractApplication
< 1.9.0CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Identify the installed Apache Fineract versionCheck the Fineract version file, build configuration (pom.xml or build.gradle), Docker image tag, or deployment manifest. In a running instance, examine the WAR file properties or the application's /api version endpoint if exposed.Affected if The installed version is below 1.9.0 (including 1.8.x and earlier versions)
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Verify the application is exposed to untrusted inputReview the Fineract deployment configuration to determine if the REST API endpoints are accessible from network locations outside the trusted administrative zone.Affected if The API is externally accessible without strict network segmentation or authentication proxy layers
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Confirm SQL-facing components are enabledExamine whether the Fineract JDBC connector, report generation module, or search/filter parameters that translate to database queries are in active use. Check if custom report definitions or dynamic query builders are deployed.Affected if Features that accept dynamic input for database queries (search filters, report parameters, custom fields) are operational
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Check for recent authentication or input validation logsReview Fineract application logs for SQL injection attempt patterns, database errors, or failed authentication events that may indicate exploitation attempts.Affected if Suspicious SQL-like error patterns appear in logs, or unauthorized database query anomalies are detected
A system is affected if Apache Fineract version 1.9.0 or later is not installed AND the application accepts untrusted input that reaches database query layers.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
dbcve · scoped1.9.0
Upgrade Apache Fineract to version 1.8.5 or 1.9.0 which contains the patched code fixing the SQL injection vulnerability.
1.9.0
- 1. Backup the existing Apache Fineract installation and its database before proceeding with the upgrade.
- 2. Download Apache Fineract version 1.9.0 (the latest fixed release) from the official Apache Fineract repository.
- 3. Follow the official Apache Fineract upgrade documentation to migrate from the current version to version 1.9.0.
- 4. After completing the upgrade, verify that the SQL injection vulnerability is resolved by reviewing the fixed code changes in version 1.9.0.
- 5. Test the application functionality to ensure the upgrade was successful and no regressions were introduced.
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
Fix this in Fineract
Scoped from the published advisory
- Consultation6.0 h
- Implementation8.0 h
- Testing12.0 h
- Review / QA4.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $8,256.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2024-23538 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2024-23538 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
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