CVE-2022-3470 in Human Resource Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 10/13/2022
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Human Resource Management System. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the file getstatecity.php. The manipulation of the argument sc 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-210714 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2022
The CVE-2022-3470 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Human Resource Management System, specifically targeting the getstatecity.php file. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The affected parameter sc serves as the primary attack vector, where malicious input can be injected into the sql execution chain. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates severe potential impact on system integrity and data confidentiality, as sql injection attacks can enable unauthorized access to sensitive information including employee records, personal identification data, and system credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote code execution capabilities that allow attackers to manipulate the sc parameter within the getstatecity.php file. When user input is directly concatenated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization, attackers can craft malicious payloads that alter the intended query structure. This allows for data extraction, modification, or deletion operations against the underlying database. The vulnerability's disclosure status means that attack techniques and exploit code are publicly available, significantly increasing the risk exposure for affected systems. The attack surface extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise and lateral movement within network environments.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2022-3470 extends beyond immediate data breaches to encompass complete system compromise and business disruption. Human resource management systems typically contain highly sensitive personal and financial data, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. Successful exploitation could result in identity theft, financial fraud, regulatory compliance violations, and significant reputational damage. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the target network, enabling widespread and scalable attacks. Organizations utilizing this system face potential regulatory penalties under data protection frameworks such as gdpr, hipaa, and other applicable compliance standards.
Security mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through proper input validation and parameterized query implementation. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly the sc parameter in getstatecity.php, using prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent sql injection. System administrators should implement web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious requests targeting this specific vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues across the application stack. Additionally, organizations should enforce principle of least privilege access controls, implement robust database security measures, and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 sql injection weakness classification and represents a typical attack pattern documented in the mitre att&ck framework under initial access and execution techniques.