CVE-2020-25409 in College Management System Php
Summary
by MITRE • 05/24/2021
Projectsworlds College Management System Php 1.0 is vulnerable to SQL injection issues over multiple parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2021
The CVE-2020-25409 vulnerability affects Projectsworlds College Management System Php version 1.0, exposing it to multiple SQL injection attack vectors that can compromise the underlying database infrastructure. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the web application's input validation mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to manipulate database queries through carefully crafted inputs. The system's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied data across multiple parameters creates persistent entry points for attackers seeking to exploit the application's database layer. The vulnerability specifically targets the PHP-based college management system, which likely handles sensitive educational data including student records, academic information, and administrative details.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection vulnerability stems from improper input sanitization and parameter handling within the application's backend code. Attackers can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious SQL commands through various input fields, potentially including login credentials, search parameters, or data entry forms. The vulnerability manifests when user input is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate query execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The attack vector leverages the fundamental principle that untrusted input should never be directly embedded into database queries without proper validation and sanitization measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-25409 extends beyond simple data theft, potentially enabling complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive institutional information. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could retrieve, modify, or delete critical educational data including student personal information, academic records, grades, and administrative details. The compromised system may also serve as a stepping stone for further attacks within the network infrastructure, particularly if the database server shares resources with other critical systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1046, covering network service scanning that can lead to database exploitation. The exposure of sensitive educational data could result in regulatory compliance violations under data protection frameworks such as GDPR or FERPA, depending on the geographical jurisdiction and data handling practices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-25409 should focus on implementing robust input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a secure version of the Projectsworlds College Management System. The implementation of prepared statements and parameterized queries represents the most effective defensive measure against SQL injection attacks, as these techniques separate SQL commands from data inputs. Additionally, regular security code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and database access controls should be deployed to limit potential attack surface. The security team should also implement proper monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized database access attempts and establish incident response procedures for rapid remediation of similar vulnerabilities.