CVE-2023-1770 in Grade Point Average GPA Calculator
Summary
by MITRE • 03/31/2023
A vulnerability has been found in SourceCodester Grade Point Average GPA Calculator 1.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function get_scale of the file Master.php. The manipulation of the argument perc leads to sql injection. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-224671.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1770 represents a critical sql injection flaw in the SourceCodester Grade Point Average GPA Calculator version 1.0 application. This vulnerability specifically targets the get_scale function within the Master.php file, where user-supplied input is improperly handled without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw occurs when the perc argument is processed, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the application's database queries. The vulnerability's classification as critical stems from its potential to allow full database access and manipulation, which could result in data theft, data corruption, or complete system compromise. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, enabling them to target vulnerable installations over the internet without requiring special privileges or local access. This vulnerability has been actively disclosed and is considered publicly available, increasing the risk to organizations that have not yet applied mitigations. The exploit availability significantly elevates the threat level, as it removes the requirement for advanced technical skills in developing custom attack vectors. The VDB-224671 identifier confirms this vulnerability is catalogued in the vulnerability database, indicating its recognition within the security community and potential inclusion in automated threat detection systems.
The technical implementation of this sql injection vulnerability occurs through improper input validation within the get_scale function in Master.php. When the perc parameter is passed to this function, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize the input before incorporating it into sql queries. This allows attackers to craft malicious input that alters the intended sql query structure, potentially executing unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability follows common sql injection patterns where user-controllable data is directly concatenated into sql statements without proper sanitization. Attackers can manipulate the perc argument to inject sql commands that may extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even execute system commands depending on the database management system in use. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it through web interfaces, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no special access to the system's internal network or physical infrastructure. This flaw demonstrates a lack of input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to secure coding standards, specifically violating principles outlined in the owasp top ten security risks.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-1770 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential business disruption. Organizations utilizing the affected GPA calculator application face significant risks including unauthorized access to student records, grade information, and potentially sensitive personal data. The sql injection vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges within the database, access administrative functions, or even gain access to underlying system resources. In educational environments, this could result in widespread data breaches affecting thousands of students and potentially exposing personal information that could be used for identity theft or fraud. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can target vulnerable systems from anywhere in the world, making detection and attribution difficult. The vulnerability's critical severity classification indicates that it could be leveraged for extensive data exfiltration, database corruption, or even the complete destruction of the application's data repository. Organizations may also face regulatory compliance issues if student data is compromised, particularly under privacy laws such as gdpr or fERPA that govern educational data protection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-1770 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary recommendation involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks, which aligns with the common weakness enumeration standard CWE-89 for sql injection vulnerabilities. Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of the GPA calculator application where the vulnerability has been patched, or implement proper input sanitization if upgrading is not immediately feasible. The fix should involve using prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions, ensuring that user input cannot alter the sql query structure. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. The implementation of proper access controls and database user permissions can limit the damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar issues in other applications and systems that may be running the same vulnerable software components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1190 technique for exploit public-facing application, emphasizing the importance of patch management and network segmentation as defensive measures.