CVE-2022-2019 in Prison Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2022
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in SourceCodester Prison Management System 1.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /classes/Users.php?f=save of the component New User Creation. The manipulation leads to improper authorization. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2019 represents a critical security flaw within the SourceCodester Prison Management System version 1.0, specifically targeting the user authentication and authorization mechanisms. This issue resides in the /classes/Users.php file within the New User Creation component, where improper authorization controls have been implemented. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates a severe risk to system integrity and data security, potentially allowing unauthorized individuals to gain elevated privileges or access restricted system functionalities.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the improper handling of user creation requests through the f=save parameter within the Users.php file. This vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal authorization procedures during new user registration processes, potentially allowing them to create accounts with administrative privileges or access restricted system areas. The flaw likely stems from insufficient input validation, inadequate session management, or flawed privilege checking mechanisms that fail to properly verify user credentials or authorization levels before granting access to system resources. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285: Improper Authorization, which encompasses issues where the system fails to properly enforce access controls for authenticated users.
The remote exploitation capability of this vulnerability presents significant operational risks for prison management systems, which handle sensitive information including inmate records, staff details, and operational data. An attacker could leverage this flaw to create unauthorized administrator accounts, potentially gaining complete control over the system. The public disclosure of the exploit means that malicious actors can readily implement this attack without requiring advanced technical skills, significantly increasing the threat surface. Such vulnerabilities in prison management systems are particularly concerning as they could compromise security operations, facilitate unauthorized access to restricted areas, or enable data manipulation that affects public safety and institutional integrity.
Organizations utilizing this system should immediately implement mitigations including applying available patches or updates from the vendor, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected components, and conducting thorough security assessments of all user creation and authorization processes. Additional defensive measures should include monitoring for unauthorized user creation attempts, implementing robust input validation for all user registration parameters, and establishing proper access control mechanisms that enforce the principle of least privilege. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic where adversaries leverage system flaws to gain elevated access rights. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting the vulnerable f=save parameter, and establish comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.