CVE-2018-17840 in Education Website
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection exists in Scriptzee Education Website 1.0 via the college_list.html subject, city, or country parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17840 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Scriptzee Education Website version 1.0 application. This weakness specifically manifests in the college_list.html page where user input parameters for subject, city, and country are processed without adequate sanitization or validation measures. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of user-supplied data that flows directly into database query construction, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database operations. Such sql injection vulnerabilities fall under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands, making this flaw particularly dangerous as it can enable unauthorized access to sensitive educational data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the subject, city, or country parameters of the college_list.html page. The application fails to implement proper input validation or parameterized queries, allowing sql commands embedded within user input to be executed by the database engine. This can result in data extraction, modification, or deletion of educational institution records, student information, or administrative data stored within the database. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it targets a web interface commonly used for educational research and college selection processes, potentially exposing sensitive information about academic institutions and their student populations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges within the database system and potentially gain unauthorized access to additional resources within the application's infrastructure. The exposure of educational institution data through sql injection can lead to privacy violations, competitive intelligence gathering, and potential disruption of educational services. Organizations utilizing this vulnerable software may face regulatory compliance issues under data protection frameworks such as gdpr or state education privacy laws, while also suffering reputational damage from data breaches affecting student and institutional information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17840 should prioritize immediate implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements to ensure user input is properly escaped and treated as data rather than executable code. Input validation and sanitization measures must be enforced at both the application layer and database level to prevent malicious sql fragments from being processed. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection against sql injection attacks. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application parameters and functions, as well as regular security testing including automated sql injection scanning tools. Organizations should also consider implementing least privilege database access controls and regular security updates to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities, aligning with industry best practices outlined in the mitre attack framework for preventing and detecting sql injection attacks.