CVE-2018-18757 in Open Faculty Evaluation System
Summary
by MITRE
Open Faculty Evaluation System 5.6 for PHP 5.6 allows submit_feedback.php SQL Injection, a different vulnerability than CVE-2018-18758.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2023
The Open Faculty Evaluation System version 5.6 presents a critical SQL injection vulnerability in the submit_feedback.php component that specifically targets applications running on PHP 5.6 environments. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from CVE-2018-18758, indicating separate attack vectors and exploitation mechanisms within the same software ecosystem. The system's failure to properly sanitize user input in the feedback submission process creates an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, where improper input validation allows attackers to execute unauthorized database commands. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that PHP 5.6, while functional, lacks many of the modern security features present in newer PHP versions and has reached end-of-life status, making the exploitation of such vulnerabilities more straightforward for threat actors.
The technical exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability occurs when user-provided data submitted through the feedback form is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. Attackers can manipulate the input fields to inject malicious SQL code that bypasses authentication mechanisms, extracts sensitive data from the database, modifies existing records, or even deletes critical information. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the submit_feedback.php script where user input is processed and subsequently used in database operations. This flaw enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including but not limited to data retrieval, modification, or deletion, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the faculty evaluation system data. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard web application attack techniques that leverage the absence of proper input validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to encompass complete system integrity breaches that could severely disrupt academic evaluation processes. Organizations relying on this system face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive faculty performance data, potential manipulation of evaluation results, and exposure of personal information of both faculty members and students. The vulnerability's persistence in PHP 5.6 environments compounds the risk as this version lacks modern security mitigations such as prepared statements by default and has known security weaknesses that make exploitation more likely. The system's inability to properly validate or escape user input creates cascading effects where a single compromised submission can potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the underlying database infrastructure. This risk is further amplified by the fact that academic institutions often store sensitive personal and performance data that could be targeted by various threat actors including competitors, disgruntled individuals, or nation-state actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries in the submit_feedback.php script to prevent SQL injection attacks, aligning with the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices. The immediate fix involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper escaping mechanisms or implementing prepared statements that separate SQL logic from data. Additionally, system administrators should consider upgrading from PHP 5.6 to supported versions that include enhanced security features and regular security updates. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation layers can provide additional protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be part of the operational security posture to prevent similar issues from emerging in other parts of the application. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1190 technique of Exploit Public-Facing Application, emphasizing the need for proper input validation and secure coding practices to prevent such exploitation scenarios.