CVE-2022-2803 in Zoo Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2022
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Zoo Management System and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /pages/animals.php. The manipulation of the argument class_id leads to sql injection. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-206249 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2803 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Zoo Management System, a web application designed for managing zoo animal records and related information. This vulnerability resides in the processing logic of the /pages/animals.php file, which serves as a critical component for animal data management within the system. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes the class_id parameter, which is typically used to categorize and organize animal information within the zoo management framework. The vulnerability classification as critical reflects the severe potential impact on the system's data integrity and security posture, particularly given that the application likely handles sensitive information about animals, their care, and management protocols.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the class_id argument, which is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization measures. When an attacker submits malicious input through this parameter, the application fails to properly escape or encode the data before incorporating it into sql queries executed against the backend database. This omission creates a direct pathway for sql injection attacks where attackers can manipulate the database queries to extract, modify, or delete sensitive information. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that malicious actors can leverage this flaw from external networks without requiring physical access to the system, significantly expanding the potential attack surface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable comprehensive database compromise and potentially lead to full system infiltration. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to access confidential animal records, staff information, visitor data, and other sensitive operational details that the zoo management system maintains. The disclosure of the exploit to the public, as indicated by the VDB-206249 identifier, increases the risk profile significantly since threat actors can readily implement the attack without requiring advanced technical skills. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-89, which classifies sql injection flaws as a fundamental weakness in application security, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and input validation that should be implemented in all web applications processing user-supplied data.
Organizations utilizing this system should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation approach involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent malicious sql code from being executed within the application's database layer. The application should be updated to sanitize all user inputs, particularly those used in database queries, and employ prepared statements or stored procedures that separate sql code from data. Additionally, network-level security measures including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns. The implementation of proper access controls and least privilege principles for database connections can further limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of adhering to secure coding practices and regular security assessments as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's application security categories, particularly focusing on the prevention of code injection vulnerabilities that can lead to complete system compromise.