CVE-2022-3414 in Web-Based Student Clearance System
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2022
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Web-Based Student Clearance System. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the file /Admin/login.php of the component POST Parameter Handler. The manipulation of the argument txtusername leads to sql injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-210246 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3414 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Web-Based Student Clearance System, specifically affecting the administrative login functionality. This vulnerability resides in the POST parameter handler component located at /Admin/login.php, where the txtusername parameter becomes the attack vector for malicious sql injection attempts. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the username input field in ways that bypass normal authentication mechanisms and directly interact with the underlying database system. The vulnerability's classification as critical stems from its ability to enable unauthorized database access and potential system compromise through remote exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the standard sql injection attack pattern where the txtusername parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into database queries. When an attacker submits malicious input through the username field, the application fails to escape special sql characters or employ parameterized queries, allowing sql commands to be executed within the database context. This flaw specifically affects the authentication process where user credentials are verified against stored database records, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially bypass authentication entirely or extract sensitive user information including hashed passwords and personal student data.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-3414 extends beyond simple authentication bypass, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise and unauthorized access to student records, administrative functions, and potentially the entire web application infrastructure. Remote exploitation capabilities mean that attackers do not need physical access to the system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for educational institutions that rely on web-based systems for student management. The disclosure of the exploit to the public, as indicated by the VDB-210246 identifier, increases the likelihood of widespread exploitation and makes this vulnerability a high-priority target for threat actors seeking to compromise educational databases. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-89 sql injection weakness classification and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase, particularly in the login.php file and related authentication components. The application should employ prepared statements or stored procedures to ensure that user input cannot be interpreted as sql commands. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for suspicious sql injection patterns. Additionally, the system should implement proper access controls, regular security audits, and input sanitization mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and demonstrates how basic authentication flaws can escalate into complete system compromises, making regular security assessments and code reviews essential for maintaining web application integrity.