CVE-2023-5374 in Online Computer and Laptop Store
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in SourceCodester Online Computer and Laptop Store 1.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file products.php. The manipulation of the argument c leads to sql injection. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-241255.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2023
This critical sql injection vulnerability exists in the SourceCodester Online Computer and Laptop Store version 1.0 application where the products.php file fails to properly sanitize user input. The flaw occurs when the parameter c is processed without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the database query execution flow. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers can leverage this weakness from external networks without requiring physical access to the system. This represents a fundamental breakdown in input validation practices that violates established security principles and creates significant risk for data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability's classification as critical underscores the potential for widespread impact including unauthorized data access, data manipulation, and possible system compromise. The disclosure of the exploit to the public community accelerates the threat landscape by providing malicious actors with ready-made tools to target affected installations. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws in software applications where user-supplied data is improperly incorporated into sql queries. The attack vector demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1190 which involves using legitimate credentials to access systems through network services, in this case exploiting the sql injection to gain unauthorized database access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to include complete database compromise and potential lateral movement within affected networks. An attacker could extract sensitive customer information, manipulate product listings, modify pricing structures, or even escalate privileges within the database environment. The lack of proper input sanitization creates an attack surface that could be leveraged for more sophisticated exploitation techniques including union-based queries, error-based extraction, or time-based blind sql injection approaches. Organizations running this vulnerable software face immediate risk of data breaches and regulatory compliance violations, particularly if customer personal information or financial data is stored in the affected database. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the online store's product catalog management system, potentially disrupting business operations while simultaneously providing attackers with persistent access to sensitive information. The public availability of the exploit means that this vulnerability is likely being actively targeted by threat actors in automated scanning campaigns, increasing the urgency for remediation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must include immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. The application code should be updated to use prepared statements with proper parameter binding instead of direct string concatenation of user input into sql queries. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and block suspicious sql injection patterns in real-time traffic. Database access controls should be implemented with least privilege principles to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The organization should also implement monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized database access attempts and sql injection activities. Patch management procedures should be established to ensure timely deployment of security updates and fixes. Additionally, regular staff training on secure coding practices and vulnerability awareness should be conducted to prevent similar issues in future development cycles. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the applied fixes do not introduce regressions in application functionality while maintaining the security posture against sql injection threats.