CVE-2021-41659 in Banking System
Summary
by MITRE • 01/24/2022
SQL injection vulnerability in Sourcecodester Banking System v1 by oretnom23, allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username or password field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2025
The CVE-2021-41659 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Sourcecodester Banking System version 1, developed by oretnom23. This vulnerability resides in the authentication mechanism of the banking application, specifically targeting the username and password input fields. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the application's backend database interactions, creating a direct pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89, which categorizes sql injection as a fundamental flaw in application security where untrusted data is directly incorporated into sql command construction without proper escaping or parameterization. The banking system fails to employ prepared statements or parameterized queries when processing user credentials, instead concatenating user input directly into sql strings. This primitive approach to database interaction allows attackers to inject malicious sql code through the authentication fields, potentially bypassing the entire authentication mechanism.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to the confidentiality and integrity of the banking system's data. An attacker exploiting this flaw can execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database, potentially gaining access to sensitive customer information, account details, transaction records, and even administrative privileges. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers could modify or delete critical financial data, manipulate account balances, or create fraudulent transactions. The vulnerability's accessibility through the username or password fields makes it particularly dangerous as it requires no specialized knowledge to exploit, potentially allowing automated attacks to target the system.
The exploitation of CVE-2021-41659 aligns with several tactics described in the attack framework, including initial access through credential compromise and privilege escalation via database manipulation. This vulnerability could enable attackers to follow the attack chain documented in the mitre attack framework, moving from initial compromise to lateral movement and data exfiltration. Organizations using this banking system face significant risk of financial loss, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage should this vulnerability be exploited. The vulnerability's persistence in a banking application underscores the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly in financial systems where data protection is paramount.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements for all database interactions, comprehensive input validation and sanitization, and regular security code reviews. Organizations must also implement proper authentication mechanisms with account lockout policies and monitoring for suspicious login attempts. The fix should address the root cause by ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped or parameterized before database interaction, aligning with security standards such as owasp top ten and iso 27001 requirements for secure application development.