CVE-2024-10425 in Student Project Allocation System
Summary
by MITRE • 10/27/2024
A vulnerability was found in Project Worlds Student Project Allocation System 1.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /student/project_selection/move_up_project.php of the component Project Selection Page. The manipulation of the argument up leads to sql injection. The attack may be launched 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 vulnerability in Project Worlds Student Project Allocation System version 1.0 represents a severe sql injection flaw that undermines the system's database security. The vulnerability specifically affects the project selection page functionality, where the move_up_project.php file processes user input through the up parameter. This sql injection vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data exfiltration. The attack vector is remote, meaning malicious actors can exploit this weakness without physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for online educational platforms that handle sensitive student information.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the project selection component. When users interact with the project movement functionality, the up parameter is directly incorporated into sql queries without adequate escaping or parameterization. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can manipulate the sql execution flow, enabling unauthorized database access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which classifies sql injection as a persistent security weakness that allows attackers to bypass authentication, retrieve confidential data, modify database contents, or even execute operating system commands on the server. The fact that this vulnerability has been publicly disclosed increases the risk exposure significantly, as threat actors can readily develop exploit code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential disruption of educational services. Attackers could manipulate project allocation results, access student records, personal information, and academic data, potentially violating privacy regulations such as gdpr orFERPA. The system's critical functionality for student project management means that exploitation could disrupt academic processes and compromise the integrity of the entire allocation system. Additionally, successful sql injection attacks could provide attackers with elevated privileges to perform administrative functions, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects educational institutions that rely on automated project allocation systems, creating potential reputational damage and regulatory compliance issues.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application's codebase, particularly in the move_up_project.php file and related components. All user-supplied input should be sanitized and validated before processing, with strict type checking and length limitations applied to prevent malicious data injection. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block sql injection attempts, deploy comprehensive logging and monitoring systems to identify suspicious activities, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities. The exploit availability makes immediate patching essential, with security teams implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential damage. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and the need for regular security testing, particularly in educational software that handles sensitive personal data, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.3 for application layer protocol usage.