CVE-2009-2598 in Online Grades
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Online Grades & Attendance 3.2.6 and earlier allow (1) remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the key parameter in a resetpass action to index.php and (2) remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the ADD parameter in a mailto action to parents/parents.php.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2598 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Online Grades & Attendance version 3.2.6 and earlier systems. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote code execution through improper input validation mechanisms that fail to sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The flaw exists within the application's handling of specific parameters during authentication and communication processes, creating pathways for malicious actors to manipulate database operations and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate input data in two distinct attack vectors. The first vector targets the key parameter within the resetpass action of index.php, while the second vector exploits the ADD parameter during mailto operations in parents/parents.php. Both scenarios demonstrate poor input sanitization practices where user-controllable data directly influences SQL query construction without adequate filtering or parameterization. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database engine.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and unauthorized access to student and parent information. Remote attackers can leverage these injection points to execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially gaining administrative privileges, modifying database records, or extracting sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and academic records. The authenticated user vector presents additional risk as it allows individuals with legitimate access to escalate their privileges and manipulate system data, creating potential for both data integrity violations and confidentiality breaches.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and parameterized queries to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input sanitization techniques such as prepared statements with parameterized queries, input length restrictions, and comprehensive data validation routines. Organizations should also enforce principle of least privilege access controls and implement network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes exploitation of vulnerabilities in remote services, and T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in legacy systems, as this type of flaw remains prevalent in many web applications due to insufficient input validation mechanisms.