CVE-2022-27304 in Student Grading System
Summary
by MITRE • 04/06/2022
Student Grading System v1.0 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the user parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2025
The Student Grading System v1.0 presents a critical security vulnerability through a SQL injection flaw in its user parameter handling mechanism. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's database interaction components, allowing malicious actors to manipulate SQL query structures through crafted user inputs. The flaw exists in the system's authentication and user management modules where user parameters are directly incorporated into database queries without proper parameterization or input filtering. Such an oversight creates a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database infrastructure, potentially compromising the entire grading system's data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's ability to process user authentication requests and user-related queries, making it a prime target for unauthorized access attempts.
This SQL injection vulnerability operates under CWE-89 which classifies it as a direct code injection attack vector where untrusted data flows into SQL commands. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects the core user parameter handling functionality, which is fundamental to the system's operation. Attackers can exploit this weakness to extract sensitive information from the database including user credentials, student records, academic data, and potentially system configuration details. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious SQL payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms or directly query database tables containing privileged information. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the use of SQL injection to gain access to databases and extract sensitive data. The system's lack of proper input validation creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for both reconnaissance and data exfiltration activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable complete system compromise and unauthorized administrative access. An attacker who successfully exploits this SQL injection vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges within the grading system, modify student records, alter grades, or even delete critical academic data. The vulnerability's presence undermines the system's integrity and trustworthiness, particularly in educational environments where data accuracy and security are paramount. Organizations using this system face significant risk of regulatory compliance violations, especially under data protection frameworks such as gdpr orFERPA which mandate proper security controls for student information. The vulnerability also creates potential for denial of service attacks if attackers can manipulate database queries to consume excessive resources or crash database connections. Recovery from such an attack would require extensive forensic analysis, system reinstallation, and potential data restoration from backups.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements throughout the application's database interaction code, ensuring that user inputs are never directly concatenated into SQL commands. Input validation and sanitization measures should be strengthened to reject malformed or suspicious inputs before they reach database layers. The system should also implement proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against SQL injection attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities throughout the application codebase. The fix should align with security best practices outlined in owasp top ten and iso 27001 standards, ensuring comprehensive protection against injection attacks and maintaining the system's overall security posture.