CVE-2022-28014 in Attendance and Payroll System
Summary
by MITRE • 04/22/2022
Attendance and Payroll System v1.0 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the component \admin\attendance_edit.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2022
The CVE-2022-28014 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Attendance and Payroll System version 1.0, specifically within the admin_attendance_edit.php component. This SQL injection vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and improper parameter handling in the web application's database interaction mechanisms. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code through unsanitized user inputs, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure underlying the payroll and attendance tracking system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL queries. When administrators interact with the attendance editing functionality, the system processes input parameters without adequate security controls, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate database operations. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as a fundamental flaw in input validation and data sanitization practices. The vulnerability exists at the application layer where user inputs are directly concatenated into SQL statements rather than utilizing prepared statements or parameterized queries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the database server, escalate privileges, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive employee payroll and attendance records. Given that this system handles critical human resources data including salary information, working hours, and attendance logs, successful exploitation could result in significant financial fraud, identity theft, or corporate espionage. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entire system, as attackers could not only extract sensitive information but also modify or delete payroll records, disrupt operations, or create backdoor access points for future attacks. This risk is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where such systems manage large volumes of sensitive employee data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28014 should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized query usage throughout the application codebase. Organizations must replace direct SQL concatenation with prepared statements or stored procedures that separate SQL logic from data input. The system should implement comprehensive input sanitization, including character encoding, length validation, and type checking for all parameters processed by the admin_attendance_edit.php component. Additionally, access controls should be strengthened through role-based permissions and audit logging to detect unauthorized database access attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities and T1078 for valid accounts, emphasizing the need for both defensive measures and monitoring capabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to provide additional layers of protection against SQL injection attacks and unauthorized data access attempts.