CVE-2023-1591 in Automatic Question Paper Generator System
Summary
by MITRE • 03/23/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in SourceCodester Automatic Question Paper Generator System 1.0. This affects an unknown part of the file classes/Users.php?f=save_ruser. The manipulation of the argument id/email leads to sql injection. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-223659.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1591 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Automatic Question Paper Generator System version 1.0. This system is designed for automated question paper generation and likely serves educational institutions or examination bodies. The vulnerability resides in the file classes/Users.php at the endpoint f=save_ruser which handles user registration or modification operations. The flaw specifically manifests when processing the id/email parameter, indicating that the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user input before incorporating it into database queries. This critical classification stems from the fact that attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing applications. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary sql commands to be executed against the underlying database, potentially enabling full system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard sql injection attack patterns where malicious input is crafted to manipulate the intended database query execution flow. When the id/email parameter is processed through the save_ruser function, insufficient input validation or sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious sql code that gets executed by the database server. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which defines sql injection as the insertion of malicious sql fragments into input data that is subsequently processed by a sql interpreter. The remote attack vector indicates that the vulnerability exists in web application code that accepts user input through http requests, likely via GET or POST parameters. Attackers can leverage this to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even execute administrative commands on the database server, depending on the privileges of the database user account used by the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to user accounts, examination data, and potentially the entire database infrastructure. This could result in the exposure of sensitive educational information including student records, exam papers, and administrative credentials. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects a user management function, which typically contains valuable information about system users and their access rights. Database compromise could lead to complete system takeover, data breaches, and potential regulatory violations depending on the jurisdiction and data protection requirements. Organizations using this software are at risk of reputational damage, legal consequences, and financial losses due to the exposure of sensitive educational data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate input validation and parameterized query implementation. The primary fix involves implementing proper input sanitization and validation for all user-supplied data, particularly the id/email parameter in the save_ruser function. This includes employing prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and least privilege principles for database connections used by the application. Network-level mitigations such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional protection layers. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. Patch management procedures should be established to ensure timely deployment of security updates and fixes to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.