CVE-2014-8366 in openSIS
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in openSIS 4.5 through 5.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the Username and password to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2022
The CVE-2014-8366 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw discovered in the openSIS student information system version 4.5 through 5.3. This vulnerability resides in the authentication mechanism of the application where user credentials are processed through the index.php endpoint. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the sql query execution by injecting malicious sql commands through the Username and password parameters, effectively bypassing the intended authentication controls. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data within the application's database interaction layer, creating a direct pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized sql operations against the underlying database infrastructure. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into sql commands without proper escaping or parameterization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple authentication bypass as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary sql commands on the database server hosting the openSIS application. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive student information, modify academic records, access administrative privileges, or even escalate their access to the underlying operating system if proper database security measures are not in place. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker does not require physical access to the system or local network connectivity, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet. This vulnerability directly aligns with attack techniques documented in the mitre att&ck framework under the privilege escalation and credential access domains, specifically targeting the credential access tactic where adversaries seek to obtain credentials through various means including exploitation of software vulnerabilities.
Organizations utilizing affected openSIS versions face significant security risks as this vulnerability can be exploited without requiring specialized tools or deep technical knowledge to identify. The attack surface is particularly wide since the vulnerability affects the core login functionality, meaning that any attempt to access the application's authentication system could potentially be leveraged for malicious purposes. Database administrators and security teams should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority issue requiring immediate remediation through proper input validation, parameterized queries, and application code review. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper sql injection prevention mechanisms such as prepared statements and input sanitization, which are fundamental requirements according to security standards like owasp top 10 and the iso 27001 information security management framework. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and database access controls to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, while maintaining comprehensive monitoring and logging capabilities to detect unauthorized access attempts.