CVE-2023-1847 in Online Payroll System
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2023
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Online Payroll System 1.0 and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file attendance.php. The manipulation of the argument employee leads to sql injection. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-224987.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1847 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Online Payroll System version 1.0, demonstrating a significant security weakness that exposes organizations to potential data breaches and system compromise. This vulnerability specifically targets the attendance.php file where the employee parameter is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization measures. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the employee argument in ways that can inject malicious sql code into the database query execution chain, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive payroll and employee data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper parameter handling within the application's backend processing logic. When the employee argument is passed to the attendance.php script, the system fails to implement proper input sanitization or parameterized query construction, creating an exploitable entry point for sql injection attacks. This weakness directly maps to CWE-89, which categorizes sql injection vulnerabilities as a fundamental flaw in application security where untrusted data is incorporated into sql queries without proper escaping or parameterization. The attack vector is remotely accessible, meaning that malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability from external networks without requiring physical access to the system infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary database commands, modify payroll records, access confidential employee information, or even escalate privileges within the system. The disclosure of this exploit as referenced in VDB-224987 indicates that threat actors have already developed working attack code, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it is no longer theoretical but actively being used in the wild. Organizations running this payroll system version are at risk of unauthorized data access, financial fraud, and compliance violations that could result in significant financial and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must prioritize immediate remediation through proper input validation and parameterized query implementation. System administrators should implement proper sql injection prevention techniques including the use of prepared statements, stored procedures, and comprehensive input sanitization routines. The application should be updated to the latest version if available, or alternatively, implement web application firewall rules to detect and block malicious sql injection patterns targeting the attendance.php endpoint. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security audits of their payroll systems, implement database access controls, and establish monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices aligned with industry standards such as those recommended in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.