CVE-2024-10421 in Attendance and Payroll System
Summary
by MITRE • 10/27/2024
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in SourceCodester Attendance and Payroll System 1.0. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /admin/overtime_row.php. The manipulation of the argument id leads to sql injection. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2024
This critical sql injection vulnerability exists in the SourceCodester Attendance and Payroll System version 1.0, specifically within the administrative component at /admin/overtime_row.php. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation when processing the id parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious sql commands directly into the application's database layer. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that malicious actors can trigger the injection without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible. The disclosure of exploit details to the public community significantly increases the risk of widespread exploitation across affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows standard sql injection patterns where the id parameter is directly incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. When an attacker submits a malicious id value containing sql payload characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or union select statements, the application fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before executing database operations. This allows the attacker to manipulate the intended sql query structure, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data, modifying database records, or even executing arbitrary commands on the underlying database server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potential access to critical personnel and payroll information within the attendance system. Given that this affects an administrative interface, successful exploitation could enable unauthorized users to view, modify, or delete employee records, manipulate overtime calculations, and potentially compromise the entire payroll processing functionality. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates that it could lead to complete system compromise and data breaches that would severely impact organizational security and compliance requirements. Organizations using this system face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive employee information and financial data.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate input validation and parameterized query implementation to prevent sql injection attacks. The recommended approach includes implementing proper input sanitization mechanisms, utilizing prepared statements with parameterized queries, and conducting thorough input validation on all user-supplied data. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious sql injection patterns, conduct comprehensive security assessments of the affected application, and ensure all system components are updated to the latest available versions. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring mechanisms can help detect unauthorized access attempts and provide early warning of potential exploitation activities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 sql injection weakness and represents a significant risk under the ATT&CK framework's persistence and credential access tactics, particularly when considering the potential for lateral movement through compromised payroll data access.