CVE-2021-40596 in Online Learning System
Summary
by MITRE • 01/24/2022
SQL injection vulnerability in Login.php in sourcecodester Online Learning System v2 by oretnom23, allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the faculty_id parameter.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2024
The CVE-2021-40596 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the online learning management system developed by oretnom23, specifically targeting the login.php component. This vulnerability manifests through improper input validation and sanitization of the faculty_id parameter, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors seeking unauthorized system access. The vulnerability exists in version 2 of the sourcecodester online learning system, indicating a specific implementation weakness that affects the authentication mechanism of the platform. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious sql code through the faculty_id parameter, potentially compromising the entire system infrastructure and user data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard sql injection attack patterns where the faculty_id parameter is not properly escaped or validated before being incorporated into database queries. When an attacker submits malicious input through this parameter, the system fails to sanitize the input adequately, allowing sql commands to be executed within the database context. This creates a path for attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive information, modify database contents, or even execute administrative commands on the underlying database system. The vulnerability directly maps to common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a critical security flaw involving improper handling of user-supplied data in sql queries.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-40596 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling full system compromise and data breaches. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access to faculty and student records, academic data, and potentially system administrative credentials. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that this affects an online learning platform where sensitive educational data resides, including personal information, academic records, and communication logs. Depending on the database configuration and system permissions, successful exploitation could lead to complete database enumeration, data exfiltration, or even system takeover. The vulnerability also aligns with attack techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy under techniques that involve data manipulation and unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries. System administrators should implement proper input sanitization measures that escape or encode all user-supplied data before processing, particularly for parameters used in database operations. The recommended approach involves adopting prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input cannot alter the intended sql command structure. Additionally, implementing proper authentication controls, input length restrictions, and regular security auditing of web applications can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious sql injection attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parameters and database operations, following security best practices established in industry standards such as owasp top ten and iso 27001 security controls.