CVE-2024-10423 in Student Project Allocation System
Summary
by MITRE • 10/27/2024
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Project Worlds Student Project Allocation System 1.0. Affected is an unknown function of the file /student/project_selection/project_selection.php of the component Project Selection Page. The manipulation of the argument project_id leads to sql injection. It is possible to launch the attack 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 Project Worlds Student Project Allocation System version 1.0 within the project_selection.php file. The flaw occurs in the project selection page component where the project_id parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into sql queries. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql code through the project_id argument, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the underlying database system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without requiring any authentication or privileged access, making it highly accessible to attackers. The disclosure of the exploit to the public community significantly increases the risk of widespread exploitation across systems running this vulnerable software version. This type of injection vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category CWE-89 sql injection, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous security flaws in web applications. The attack vector leverages the web application's failure to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, creating a direct pathway for database manipulation and potential data exfiltration. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can target vulnerable systems from anywhere on the internet without needing physical access or network proximity to the affected server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete database compromise and potential system takeover. An attacker could extract sensitive student information, project details, and potentially administrative credentials stored within the database. The sql injection attack could also enable privilege escalation attacks, allowing unauthorized users to gain elevated access rights within the application and database environment. This vulnerability directly aligns with the attack pattern described in the attack technique ATT&CK T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. The affected system architecture appears to lack proper input sanitization and parameterized query implementations that would normally prevent such injection attacks. The project selection page represents a critical business function within the student allocation system, making this vulnerability particularly damaging to educational institutions that rely on the platform for academic planning and resource management. Organizations using this software face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential disruption of academic processes that depend on the integrity of the project allocation system.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the vulnerable software version to address the sql injection flaw. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent future injection attacks, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped or sanitized before database interaction. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to the affected application and database servers, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against sql injection attempts. Organizations should also establish proper monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect suspicious database activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Access controls and least privilege principles should be enforced to minimize the potential damage from successful exploitation, ensuring that database accounts used by the application have minimal required permissions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security updates in preventing critical flaws that can compromise entire systems. Additionally, implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools and regular security audits will help identify similar weaknesses in other components of the educational technology infrastructure that may be equally vulnerable to sql injection attacks.