CVE-2022-36715 in Library Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2022
Library Management System v1.0 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the name parameter at /admin/search.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-36715 affects the Library Management System version 1.0, specifically targeting the administrative search functionality. This SQL injection flaw exists within the /admin/search.php endpoint where the name parameter is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. The vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that allows unauthorized attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input, potentially leading to complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive library information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of user-supplied data within the application's database interaction layer. When the name parameter is submitted through the search form, the system directly incorporates this input into SQL query construction without employing prepared statements or proper parameterized queries. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a common weakness in software applications. The vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious SQL code that can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract confidential data, modify database contents, or even execute arbitrary commands on the underlying database server.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to library management systems that store sensitive patron information, book inventories, borrowing records, and administrative data. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to patron personal details, including names, contact information, and borrowing histories. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as the vulnerability could enable privilege escalation attacks, allowing malicious actors to assume administrative roles within the system. This presents a substantial risk to data privacy and could result in regulatory compliance violations under data protection frameworks such as gdpr and ccpa. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where the application handles large volumes of sensitive personal data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate implementation of parameterized queries and prepared statements throughout the application's database interaction layers. Input validation and sanitization mechanisms must be strengthened to filter out malicious SQL characters and patterns before any database processing occurs. The system should implement proper access controls and least privilege principles, ensuring that database accounts used by the application have minimal required permissions. Additionally, regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses. Network segmentation and database firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth layers. Organizations should also implement comprehensive logging and monitoring solutions to detect suspicious database access patterns and potential exploitation attempts, aligning with mitre att&ck framework techniques such as t1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and t1190 for exploitation of remote services.