CVE-2023-5927 in Simple Student Information System
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2023
A vulnerability has been found in Campcodes Simple Student Information System 1.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /admin/courses/manage_course.php. The manipulation of the argument id leads to sql injection. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-244327.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5927 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Campcodes Simple Student Information System version 1.0. This vulnerability specifically affects the administrative component of the system, targeting the /admin/courses/manage_course.php file which serves as a crucial interface for course management operations. The flaw arises from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. Security researchers have classified this issue as critical due to its potential for complete system compromise and the public availability of exploit code, which significantly increases the risk of widespread exploitation across vulnerable installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of the 'id' parameter within the manage_course.php script. When an attacker supplies malicious input through this parameter, the application fails to implement adequate sanitization or parameterized query construction, allowing arbitrary SQL commands to be executed within the database context. This represents a classic SQL injection vector that aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The vulnerability's exploitation is facilitated by the lack of input validation controls that should normally prevent malicious SQL payloads from being processed, creating an attack surface where database integrity and confidentiality are at severe risk.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to encompass complete system control and potential data exfiltration. An attacker exploiting this flaw could gain unauthorized access to sensitive student information, manipulate course records, modify user credentials, or even escalate privileges within the database environment. The public disclosure of exploit code documented under VDB-244327 significantly amplifies the threat landscape, as it removes the requirement for advanced technical skills typically needed to develop custom attack vectors. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of educational data systems, potentially affecting thousands of students and administrators who rely on the proper functioning of the student information platform.
Organizations utilizing Campcodes Simple Student Information System version 1.0 must implement immediate remediation measures to address this critical vulnerability. The primary mitigation strategy involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application code, particularly within the affected manage_course.php file. Security controls should include the implementation of prepared statements or stored procedures to prevent SQL injection attacks, along with comprehensive input sanitization routines that filter out potentially malicious SQL characters and sequences. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase and implement proper access controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems should also be deployed to monitor for suspicious database activity that might indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should be conducted to ensure ongoing protection against similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security measures in educational information systems that handle sensitive personal data.