CVE-2019-16264 in Sistema Integrado de Gestion Academica
Summary
by MITRE
In Escuela de Gestion Publica Plurinacional (EGPP) Sistema Integrado de Gestion Academica (GESAC) v1, the username parameter of the authentication form is vulnerable to SQL injection, allowing attackers to access the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-16264 affects the Escuela de Gestion Publica Plurinacional (EGPP) Sistema Integrado de Gestion Academica (GESAC) version 1, representing a critical security flaw in the academic management system's authentication mechanism. This vulnerability resides within the username parameter processing of the login form, where insufficient input validation and sanitization allows malicious actors to exploit the system's database interface through SQL injection techniques. The affected system represents a typical educational institution management platform that handles sensitive academic and administrative data, making it an attractive target for cyber adversaries seeking unauthorized access to institutional information. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's security architecture where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper parameterization or input filtering mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits maliciously crafted input through the username field during the authentication process. The system fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into database queries, allowing attackers to manipulate the SQL execution flow. This flaw enables adversaries to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially gaining unauthorized access to stored credentials, academic records, student information, and other sensitive institutional data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a dangerous input validation flaw that permits attackers to manipulate database operations. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform various malicious activities including data extraction, modification, or deletion, depending on their privileges and the specific database configuration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the entire academic management system. Institutions relying on GESAC for their administrative operations face significant risks including data breaches, academic record tampering, and potential disruption of educational services. The vulnerability affects the system's authentication security model, which is fundamental to protecting institutional data and maintaining trust in the academic management platform. Organizations may experience regulatory compliance issues, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences due to unauthorized data access. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability provides a direct pathway to database access without requiring additional credentials or complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks against educational institutions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-16264 must focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. The most effective approach involves replacing direct string concatenation in SQL queries with parameterized or prepared statements that separate the SQL command structure from the user input data. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including character set validation, length restrictions, and pattern matching to detect malicious input patterns. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional monitoring and blocking capabilities for SQL injection attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process requires immediate patching of the affected system, implementation of proper database access controls, and establishment of secure coding practices for all application development activities. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding guidelines and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect critical institutional databases from common but dangerous security flaws.