CVE-2021-43420 in Online Payment Hub
Summary
by MITRE • 01/24/2022
SQL injection vulnerability in Login.php in Sourcecodester Online Payment Hub v1 by oretnom23, allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username parameter.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2021-43420 represents a critical sql injection flaw in the login.php component of Sourcecodester Online Payment Hub version 1, developed by oretnom23. This vulnerability resides within the authentication mechanism of the payment hub system, making it particularly dangerous as it directly targets user credentials and system access controls. The flaw specifically affects the username parameter handling, where insufficient input validation and sanitization allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands that bypass normal authentication procedures. Such vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-89 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands, making this a classic sql injection attack vector that can lead to complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the username field during the login process. The application fails to properly escape or parameterize the user input before incorporating it into sql queries, allowing attackers to manipulate the intended query execution flow. By crafting specially formatted username inputs, attackers can execute unauthorized sql commands that may reveal database contents, modify user accounts, or even gain administrative privileges within the payment hub system. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly attractive to threat actors who seek to compromise web applications without advanced technical capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-43420 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, financial loss, and system integrity compromise. Given that this is a payment hub system, successful exploitation could result in unauthorized transactions, exposure of sensitive financial data, and compromise of customer payment information. The vulnerability affects the core authentication functionality, meaning that attackers could potentially create admin accounts, modify existing user credentials, or extract confidential database information including payment records, user details, and system configuration data. This represents a significant risk to both the organization operating the payment hub and its users who rely on secure financial transactions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. The most effective remediation involves using prepared statements with parameterized queries to ensure that user input is never directly incorporated into sql command strings. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization, output encoding, and least privilege access controls can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls and implement comprehensive monitoring to detect and respond to exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage, making it a target for both automated scanning tools and targeted attacks. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on sql injection prevention patterns are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases and maintain system integrity against evolving threat landscapes.