CVE-2007-6288 in TCExam
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in TCExam before 5.1.000 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2018
The CVE-2007-6288 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in TCExam version 5.0.000 and earlier, exposing multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities that enable remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands. This vulnerability falls under the category of injection flaws, specifically SQL injection, which is classified as CWE-89 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and improper sanitization of user-supplied data within the application's database interaction mechanisms.
TCExam is an open-source web-based examination system that manages online testing environments, making it a target for malicious actors seeking to compromise educational institutions' assessment infrastructure. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified vectors within the application's data processing pathways, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code through various input fields. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in educational environments where sensitive student data, exam results, and institutional information are stored within the database. The flaw essentially permits an attacker to bypass authentication mechanisms and directly manipulate the underlying database through crafted SQL commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, encompassing data integrity compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential system disruption. Attackers could extract confidential student records, modify exam scores, manipulate user accounts, or even delete entire database tables. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on TCExam for critical assessment operations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it targets publicly accessible web applications that process user input without proper sanitization.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2007-6288 requires immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures to prevent malicious SQL code from being executed. Organizations should upgrade to TCExam version 5.1.000 or later, which includes proper parameterized queries and input sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper access controls, database user privilege management, and regular security audits can mitigate the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and regular vulnerability assessments, particularly for applications handling sensitive data in educational and corporate environments. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to address potential data compromise incidents.