CVE-2021-42670 in Engineers Online Portal in PHP
Summary
by MITRE • 11/05/2021
A SQL injection vulnerability exists in Sourcecodester Engineers Online Portal in PHP via the id parameter to the announcements_student.php web page. As a result a malicious user can extract sensitive data from the web server and in some cases use this vulnerability in order to get a remote code execution on the remote web server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2021
The CVE-2021-42670 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Sourcecodester Engineers Online Portal application, specifically affecting the announcements_student.php web page. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the id parameter, which is processed directly in sql query construction without proper escaping or parameterization. The flaw exists in the application's backend data handling mechanism where user-supplied input flows directly into database queries without adequate security controls.
This sql injection vulnerability operates under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which classifies it as a direct sql injection attack vector. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the sql query execution by injecting malicious sql code through the id parameter, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the underlying database system. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it enables not only data extraction but also the potential for remote code execution, making it a severe threat to the application's integrity and security posture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary commands on the target web server. This remote code execution potential stems from the ability to manipulate database queries to perform operations that would normally require administrative access. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, and system configurations, while potentially establishing persistent access through backdoor creation or privilege escalation techniques.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper sql escaping mechanisms. The application should be updated immediately with patched versions that address the sql injection flaw, while implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts. Additionally, database access controls should be reviewed to ensure least privilege principles are enforced, limiting the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with attack techniques documented in the attack pattern taxonomy under the category of sql injection attacks, making it a well-known and frequently exploited threat vector in web application security assessments.