CVE-2023-46679 in Online Job Portal
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2023
Online Job Portal v1.0 is vulnerable to multiple Unauthenticated SQL Injection vulnerabilities. The 'txt_uname_email' parameter of the index.php resource does not validate the characters received and they are sent unfiltered to the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46679 affects the Online Job Portal version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the application to unauthorized data access through SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability resides within the index.php resource where user input is processed without adequate validation or sanitization, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries. The specific parameter 'txt_uname_email' serves as the attack vector, accepting user credentials or email addresses without proper filtering mechanisms that would normally prevent malicious SQL code from being executed within the database context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper input validation and parameterized query construction. When the 'txt_uname_email' parameter receives user input, the system directly incorporates these values into SQL queries without any sanitization or escaping mechanisms. This design flaw allows attackers to inject malicious SQL payloads that can manipulate the database structure or extract sensitive information. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is used to construct SQL queries without proper validation or escaping. The absence of input validation creates a direct path for attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to the underlying database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable complete database compromise and unauthorized system access. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to extract user credentials, personal information, job listings, and potentially sensitive organizational data stored within the database. The unauthenticated nature of this attack means that no prior access or credentials are required to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for applications handling sensitive user information. This flaw directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in applications to gain unauthorized access and execute malicious commands against target systems. The vulnerability could lead to data breaches, identity theft, and potential system compromise that would severely impact the organization's security posture and potentially violate data protection regulations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-46679 must focus on implementing robust input validation and parameterized query execution throughout the application. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly the 'txt_uname_email' parameter, through proper escaping or encoding mechanisms before incorporating them into database queries. Organizations should implement prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input cannot alter the intended structure of SQL commands. Additionally, input validation should be enforced at multiple levels including client-side and server-side to prevent malicious data from reaching the database layer. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional monitoring and blocking capabilities. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase and ensure that proper security controls are maintained throughout the software development lifecycle.