CVE-2018-7477 in School Management Script
Summary
by MITRE
SQL Injection exists in PHP Scripts Mall School Management Script 3.0.4 via the Username and Password fields to parents/Parent_module/parent_login.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7477 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PHP Scripts Mall School Management Script version 3.0.4. This security weakness specifically affects the authentication mechanism of the parent module, where the system fails to properly sanitize user input submitted through the Username and Password fields. The vulnerability resides in the parents/Parent_module/parent_login.php endpoint, making it accessible to attackers who can manipulate the login process to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs due to inadequate input validation and parameter sanitization within the authentication script. When users submit their credentials through the login form, the application directly incorporates these values into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. This allows malicious actors to inject specially crafted SQL payloads that can manipulate the database queries, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information, modifying user records, or even escalating privileges within the system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted for educational institutions using this school management system. Attackers could potentially access all parent account information, including usernames, passwords, and personal details stored in the database. The compromise of parent accounts could lead to unauthorized access to student records, academic performance data, and other sensitive educational information. Additionally, successful exploitation might allow attackers to modify or delete parent accounts, disrupt normal school operations, or even gain deeper system access that could compromise the entire database infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the school management system as outlined in the CIA triad of information security.
Organizations utilizing this software should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address the SQL injection vulnerability. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the authentication process, ensuring all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being incorporated into database operations. The system should employ prepared statements or parameterized queries to separate SQL code from user input, preventing malicious payloads from being executed as part of database commands. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms, such as account lockout policies and secure password storage using strong hashing algorithms, would significantly reduce the attack surface. Network segmentation and regular security audits should also be conducted to monitor for potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and secure coding practices as emphasized by the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework categories related to injection attacks and credential access.