CVE-2022-36679 in Simple Task Scheduling System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2022
Simple Task Scheduling System v1.0 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the id parameter at /admin/?page=user/manage_user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2022
The Simple Task Scheduling System version 1.0 presents a critical security flaw that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through improper input validation. This vulnerability exists within the administrative interface at the specific endpoint /admin/?page=user/manage_user where the id parameter is processed without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL syntax directly through the user identifier field, potentially compromising the entire backend database infrastructure.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89 which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database. The attack vector specifically targets the administrative user management functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it could provide unauthorized access to sensitive user data, administrative credentials, and potentially allow privilege escalation within the system. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution risk when combined with database access permissions, as it allows attackers to extract, modify, or delete data from the underlying database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it creates potential for complete system compromise. An attacker could leverage this weakness to access all user accounts, modify administrative permissions, or even gain shell access to the underlying server if database credentials are stored with elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects the system's integrity and confidentiality, potentially exposing sensitive information about users and their activities within the task scheduling environment. Additionally, the flaw could be exploited to perform unauthorized transactions or manipulate the scheduling system's functionality, disrupting business operations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application code. The recommended approach includes using prepared statements with parameterized queries to ensure that user input cannot be interpreted as SQL commands. Input sanitization should be applied at multiple levels including client-side and server-side validation, with strict type checking for numeric parameters like the id field. The system should also implement proper authentication and authorization controls to limit access to administrative functions, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to monitor for exploitation attempts. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the use of vulnerabilities to gain access to systems, and T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage for persistence and privilege escalation.