CVE-2024-12929 in Student Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2024
A vulnerability has been found in code-projects Student Management System 1.0.00 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /addCatController.php. The manipulation of the argument size 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 • 12/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-12929 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the code-projects Student Management System version 1.0.00. This system, designed for educational institutions to manage student records and related information, contains a fundamental security weakness that could compromise the entire database infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically resides in the /addCatController.php file, which serves as a controller for adding category-related data to the system. This particular file acts as a critical entry point where user input is processed and subsequently passed to database operations without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the size argument parameter within the addCatController.php file. When an attacker submits malicious input through this parameter, the system fails to properly escape or validate the data before incorporating it into sql queries. This allows an attacker to inject malicious sql code that can be executed by the database engine, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive student information, modification of database records, or even complete database compromise. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this flaw from external networks without requiring physical access to the system infrastructure, significantly expanding the potential attack surface.
The operational impact of this critical vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it fundamentally undermines the integrity and confidentiality of student management systems. Educational institutions relying on this software may face severe consequences including unauthorized access to personal student data, academic records, and potentially sensitive information that could be used for identity theft or other malicious activities. The public disclosure of the exploit further amplifies the risk, as malicious actors can immediately implement attacks against vulnerable systems. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 sql injection, which is categorized under the CWE top 25 most dangerous software weaknesses, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that student management systems often contain highly sensitive personal information that requires protection under various privacy regulations and educational data protection standards.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate action from system administrators and developers. The most critical remediation involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase, particularly within the addCatController.php file and related database interaction components. All user-supplied input should undergo rigorous sanitization and validation before being processed, with strict adherence to prepared statement usage to prevent sql injection attacks. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and least privilege principles for database connections can significantly reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious activity patterns associated with sql injection attempts. The vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle, particularly in applications handling sensitive educational data that must comply with various regulatory requirements and data protection standards.