CVE-2024-1927 in Web-Based Student Clearance System
Summary
by MITRE • 02/29/2024
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in SourceCodester Web-Based Student Clearance System 1.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /Admin/login.php. The manipulation of the argument txtpassword leads to sql injection. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-254863.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2024
This critical sql injection vulnerability exists in the SourceCodester Web-Based Student Clearance System version 1.0, specifically within the administrative login functionality. The flaw is present in the /Admin/login.php file where the txtpassword parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into database queries. This oversight creates a direct pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the backend database through the password input field. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this weakness without requiring physical access to the system or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the application's authentication mechanism. When users submit login credentials through the administrative interface, the txtpassword value is directly concatenated into sql statements without appropriate sanitization or escaping mechanisms. This allows attackers to manipulate the sql query structure by injecting malicious sql payloads through the password field, potentially enabling unauthorized database access, data exfiltration, or even complete system compromise. The vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws in software applications. According to the attack pattern taxonomy, this represents a classic sql injection attack vector that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive student information, administrative credentials, and potentially the entire database infrastructure. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform unauthorized data manipulation, including creating new administrative accounts, modifying student records, or extracting confidential information from the clearance system. The disclosure of this exploit through public channels increases the risk profile significantly, as it provides threat actors with readily available attack vectors and techniques for compromising the system. Organizations relying on this vulnerable system face potential regulatory compliance violations, reputational damage, and legal consequences due to unauthorized access to personal student data.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase, particularly in the authentication modules. The most effective remediation involves replacing direct string concatenation with prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate sql command structure from data input. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization, output encoding, and least privilege access controls can significantly reduce the attack surface. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for sql injection attempts. Regular security assessments, including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing, should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the codebase. The system should also implement proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users, and all administrative interfaces should be protected with multi-factor authentication and secure session management protocols to minimize the impact of potential credential compromise.