CVE-2023-2668 in Lost and Found Information System
Summary
by MITRE • 05/12/2023
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Lost and Found Information System 1.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function manager_category of the file admin/?page=categories/manage_category of the component GET Parameter Handler. The manipulation of the argument id leads to sql injection. The attack may be launched remotely. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-228884.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2023
This critical vulnerability exists in the SourceCodester Lost and Found Information System version 1.0, specifically within the admin interface's category management functionality. The flaw resides in the manager_category function located at admin/?page=categories/manage_category, where the GET parameter handler fails to properly sanitize input values. The vulnerability is triggered when the id argument is manipulated, creating an exploitable sql injection condition that allows attackers to execute arbitrary database commands. This represents a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and CWE-89, which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that malicious actors can leverage this weakness without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates poor database interaction practices where user-supplied input from the id parameter is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload targeting this specific GET parameter, the system fails to validate or escape the input before processing it within the database context. This allows for the injection of malicious SQL commands that can potentially read, modify, or delete database records, extract sensitive information, or even escalate privileges within the application's database layer. The attack vector operates through standard web browser interactions, making it accessible to threat actors with minimal technical expertise. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, and T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers may use this weakness to establish persistent access or move laterally within compromised networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with potential full database access and control over the application's backend operations. An attacker could extract sensitive user information, modify existing records, insert new malicious entries, or even establish backdoor access points within the system. The critical classification indicates that this vulnerability could enable complete system compromise, particularly given that the application appears to be a public-facing information system handling lost and found records that may contain personal identifiable information. Organizations running this software are at risk of data breaches, regulatory violations, and potential legal consequences due to the exposure of sensitive records. The vulnerability's presence in the admin interface suggests that attackers could potentially gain administrative privileges, leading to unauthorized system modifications and complete control over the application's functionality. Mitigation efforts should focus on immediate input validation implementation, parameterized queries, and comprehensive code review processes to prevent similar issues in the future, aligning with industry standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 security requirements for secure coding practices.