CVE-2020-6124 in openSIS
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable sql injection vulnerability exists in the email parameter functionality of OS4Ed openSIS 7.3. The email parameter in the page EmailCheckOthers.php is vulnerable to SQL injection. An attacker can make an authenticated HTTP request to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2020
The CVE-2020-6124 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the openSIS learning management system version 7.3, specifically affecting the EmailCheckOthers.php component. This vulnerability resides in the email parameter handling functionality, which processes user input to verify email addresses through database queries. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the email parameter, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only an authenticated session, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses many initial security barriers that would otherwise prevent unauthorized access attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the EmailCheckOthers.php script. When users submit email addresses for verification, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize the input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This oversight creates a classic SQL injection vector where attacker-controlled data can alter the intended query structure. The vulnerability manifests when the application constructs database queries using string concatenation or direct parameter insertion without adequate sanitization mechanisms. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous categories of web application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with extensive database access capabilities. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive educational data including student records, personal information, grades, and administrative details. The authenticated nature of the attack means that compromised user accounts could be leveraged to perform unauthorized database operations, potentially leading to data modification or deletion. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004: Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers may use the compromised system to exfiltrate data through database connections. Additionally, the vulnerability could facilitate privilege escalation attacks where attackers leverage the SQL injection to gain higher-level database permissions, potentially accessing system-level information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-6124 should focus on immediate patching of the openSIS 7.3 application, as the vendor has likely released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application to prevent similar issues in other components. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential damage from compromised accounts. Database activity monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The implementation of web application firewalls and input sanitization mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection against SQL injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.