CVE-2023-2145 in Online Thesis Archiving System
Summary
by MITRE • 04/18/2023
A vulnerability was found in Campcodes Online Thesis Archiving System 1.0. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the file projects_per_curriculum.php. The manipulation of the argument id leads to sql injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-226266 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2145 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Campcodes Online Thesis Archiving System version 1.0, specifically affecting the projects_per_curriculum.php file. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's database interaction layer, where the id parameter serves as an entry point for malicious sql commands. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied data that flows directly into sql query construction without proper escaping or parameterization, creating a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate the underlying database structure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows for remote exploitation through the manipulation of the id argument parameter, which is processed within the projects_per_curriculum.php script. When an attacker submits a malicious id value, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize this input before incorporating it into sql queries executed against the backend database. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities, and demonstrates the classic pattern of insufficient input validation in web applications. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates that it can be exploited without authentication requirements and that successful exploitation can result in complete database compromise, data exfiltration, or unauthorized access to sensitive academic information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the database server, potentially leading to full system compromise. Given that this is an online thesis archiving system, the compromised data likely contains sensitive academic records, student information, and research materials that could be subject to academic fraud, identity theft, or intellectual property violations. The public disclosure of the exploit (VDB-226266) significantly increases the risk profile as threat actors can immediately leverage this knowledge to target vulnerable installations. This vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system's data, potentially disrupting academic research workflows and compromising institutional data security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-2145 must prioritize immediate remediation through proper input validation and parameterized query implementation. Organizations should implement prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input cannot be interpreted as sql code within database operations. Additionally, the application should enforce strict input validation on all parameters, particularly those used in database queries, and implement proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to users. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while regular security assessments and code reviews should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The ATT&CK framework's T1190 technique for exploitation of remote services applies directly to this vulnerability, as it represents an attack surface that can be exploited remotely through web-based interfaces. System administrators should also consider implementing database access controls and monitoring to detect anomalous sql query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.