CVE-2023-1850 in Online Payroll System
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2023
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Online Payroll System 1.0. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /admin/login.php. The manipulation of the argument username leads to sql injection. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-224990 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1850 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Online Payroll System version 1.0, specifically affecting the administrative login functionality. This vulnerability resides in the /admin/login.php file where the username parameter is improperly handled, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized database operations. The critical rating indicates the severity of potential impact, as sql injection vulnerabilities of this nature can provide attackers with complete control over the underlying database system and potentially the entire application infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this flaw without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the username argument in the login.php file, where input validation is insufficient or completely absent. When an attacker submits malicious sql payloads through the username field, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into database queries. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary sql commands that can manipulate database records, extract sensitive information, modify data, or even execute system commands depending on the database backend and application configuration. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws, and it demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in applications. The public disclosure of the exploit (VDB-224990) significantly increases the risk as it provides attackers with ready-made tools and methods to exploit the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can lead to complete system takeover and unauthorized access to payroll information, employee data, financial records, and potentially sensitive personal information. Organizations running this vulnerable system face risks of regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences due to data breaches. The payroll system's nature means that attackers could access sensitive employee compensation details, personal identification information, and other confidential data that could be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or other malicious activities. Additionally, the compromised system could serve as a foothold for further attacks within the organization's network infrastructure, potentially leading to lateral movement and escalation of privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-1850 should prioritize immediate patching of the SourceCodester Online Payroll System to the latest available version that addresses this sql injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks, ensuring that all user inputs are properly sanitized before being processed by database operations. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the vulnerable application, while regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against sql injection attacks. The remediation process should also include disabling or removing the vulnerable application until proper security measures are implemented, and conducting thorough security training for administrators to prevent similar issues in future deployments.