CVE-2024-2482 in Hostel Management Service
Summary
by MITRE • 03/15/2024
A vulnerability has been found in Surya2Developer Hostel Management Service 1.0 and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /check_availability.php of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument oldpassword leads to observable response discrepancy. The attack can be launched remotely. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-256891.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2482 resides within the Surya2Developer Hostel Management Service version 1.0, specifically targeting the HTTP POST Request Handler component. This security flaw manifests in the /check_availability.php file where the oldpassword parameter becomes a critical attack vector. The vulnerability classifies as a response discrepancy issue, where manipulating the oldpassword argument produces observable differences in system responses, indicating potential information disclosure or authentication bypass capabilities. The attack surface extends to remote exploitation, meaning adversaries can target this weakness without physical access to the system, making it particularly concerning for web-based applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a significant flaw in input validation and response handling mechanisms. When an attacker submits manipulated values through the oldpassword parameter within the HTTP POST request, the system's response varies in observable ways, potentially revealing information about the underlying authentication system or database state. This type of vulnerability commonly falls under CWE-200 (Information Exposure) or CWE-201 (Information Exposure Through Response Discrepancy) categories, where the system inadvertently provides different responses based on varying inputs, enabling attackers to infer sensitive information through careful analysis of these discrepancies. The complexity of exploitation requires sophisticated techniques and indicates that this vulnerability may be leveraged in advanced persistent threat scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-2482 extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling unauthorized access to hostel management systems and compromising the integrity of user authentication processes. Given that this vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and exploit code is available, the risk of exploitation increases significantly. The system's response discrepancy could allow attackers to perform password guessing attacks, determine valid user accounts, or potentially bypass authentication mechanisms entirely. This weakness directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the hosted management service, particularly affecting the sensitive data of hostel residents and administrative personnel who rely on this system for their daily operations.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigation strategies including input sanitization, response normalization, and comprehensive code review of all HTTP request handlers. The vulnerability's classification as requiring high attack complexity suggests that while exploitation is challenging, the public availability of exploit code lowers the barrier for potential attackers. Organizations should consider implementing rate limiting mechanisms, strengthening authentication protocols, and conducting thorough penetration testing to identify similar response discrepancy vulnerabilities across their web applications. Additionally, the implementation of security frameworks such as OWASP Top 10 mitigation strategies and adherence to NIST cybersecurity guidelines should be prioritized to address this type of information disclosure vulnerability effectively. The presence of this vulnerability in a hostel management system particularly raises concerns about privacy protection for residents and the need for robust security controls in educational and residential environments where sensitive personal data is handled.