CVE-2023-1466 in Student Study Center Desk Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 03/17/2023
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Student Study Center Desk Management System 1.0. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function view_student of the file admin/?page=students/view_student. The manipulation of the argument id with the input 3' AND (SELECT 2100 FROM (SELECT(SLEEP(5)))FWlC) AND 'butz'='butz leads to sql injection. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-223325 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2024
This vulnerability exists within the SourceCodester Student Study Center Desk Management System version 1.0, specifically targeting the view_student function located in the admin/?page=students/view_student file. The flaw represents a classic sql injection vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary database commands through manipulated input parameters. The vulnerability is classified as critical due to its potential for unauthorized data access and system compromise. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it can be initiated remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker with knowledge of the system's structure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits improper input validation within the application's database query construction process. The malicious payload 3' AND (SELECT 2100 FROM (SELECT(SLEEP(5)))FWlC) AND 'butz'='butz demonstrates a time-based sql injection technique where the attacker leverages database functions that cause delays in execution. This specific payload utilizes the sleep function to create a five-second delay in database response, allowing the attacker to infer whether the injection was successful based on response timing. The vulnerability occurs because the application directly incorporates user-supplied id parameter into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization, creating an opening for malicious sql code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive student information including personal details, academic records, and potentially administrative credentials. The time-based injection method suggests that attackers could perform more sophisticated attacks such as blind sql injection to extract data through iterative queries, or even escalate privileges within the database to gain full administrative control. Since the exploit has been publicly disclosed and is actively available, the window for exploitation is immediate and widespread across all affected systems. This vulnerability directly aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws in software applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. The most effective immediate solution involves replacing direct string concatenation of user input with prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate sql command structure from data. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization measures, including character encoding and length restrictions on input fields, can significantly reduce exploitation potential. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for known exploit patterns and suspicious sql injection attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this represents a systemic issue in application security practices that requires comprehensive remediation across the entire codebase rather than isolated fixes.