CVE-2022-46503 in Online Student Enrollment System
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2023
A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the component /admin/register.php of Online Student Enrollment System v1.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts via a crafted payload injected into the name parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2025
The CVE-2022-46503 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Online Student Enrollment System version 1.0, specifically affecting the administrative registration component at /admin/register.php. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter malicious user-supplied data. The flaw manifests when an attacker injects crafted script code through the name parameter, which then gets executed in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in administrative interfaces where privileged access and sensitive data handling are involved.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which classifies cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw occurring when untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper sanitization. The vulnerability exists because the application does not adequately validate or escape user input before rendering it in the HTML output. When the name parameter contains malicious JavaScript code, this code executes in the victim's browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to malicious sites. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it targets an administrative endpoint, potentially providing attackers with elevated privileges and access to sensitive student enrollment data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable comprehensive session hijacking attacks and privilege escalation within the system. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the administrative interface, manipulate enrollment records, or extract confidential student information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative interfaces are accessible to untrusted users. Organizations using this system face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to educational records, potentially violating privacy regulations such as FERPA in the United States or GDPR in European jurisdictions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-46503 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves applying proper HTML escaping to all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, which directly addresses the root cause identified in CWE-79. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and establish proper input sanitization routines that validate data against expected formats. Additionally, the system should employ parameterized queries and secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar flaws in the application's codebase, while also implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms to limit exposure of administrative interfaces to unauthorized users. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1203 demonstrates its potential for credential access and privilege escalation, making immediate remediation essential for maintaining system integrity and data protection.