CVE-2021-44653 in Online Magazine Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2021
Online Magazine Management System 1.0 contains a SQL injection authentication bypass vulnerability. The Admin panel authentication can be bypassed due to SQL injection vulnerability in the login form allowing attacker to gain access as admin to the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-44653 represents a critical security flaw in the Online Magazine Management System version 1.0 that directly compromises the application's authentication mechanism. This SQL injection vulnerability specifically targets the administrative login form, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to escalate privileges and gain administrative access to the system. The flaw exists within the application's input validation and query construction processes, where user-supplied credentials are directly incorporated into database queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in authentication systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of user input during the authentication process. When administrators attempt to log into the system through the admin panel, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the username and password fields before incorporating them into SQL queries. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that manipulates the SQL query structure, effectively bypassing the intended authentication checks. The injection occurs at the database level where the application constructs queries such as SELECT * FROM admins WHERE username = '$username' AND password = '$password' without proper input sanitization or prepared statement usage. This allows threat actors to submit crafted payloads that can either return true results for any admin account or manipulate the query to skip password validation entirely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within the context of content management systems. Successful exploitation grants attackers full administrative privileges, enabling them to modify, delete, or exfiltrate all content managed through the magazine system. Beyond simple access bypass, attackers can manipulate the database structure, modify user permissions, inject malicious code into the application, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability essentially eliminates the security boundary that should protect administrative functions, transforming what should be a restricted access environment into an open system where unauthorized parties can perform any administrative action. This includes the ability to add new administrator accounts, modify existing user credentials, alter published content, and potentially access sensitive data stored within the system's database.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-44653 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application's codebase, specifically within the authentication module. All user inputs must be sanitized and validated before being incorporated into database queries, with prepared statements or parameterized queries replacing dynamic query construction. Additionally, the application should implement proper authentication controls including account lockout mechanisms, rate limiting for login attempts, and multi-factor authentication where possible. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The system should also be updated to the latest version of the Online Magazine Management System where this vulnerability has been patched, and administrators should monitor for any unauthorized access attempts or suspicious activities within the system logs. Security awareness training for administrators is also recommended to prevent social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability.