CVE-2024-25313 in Simple School Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 02/09/2024
Code-projects Simple School Managment System 1.0 allows Authentication Bypass via the username and password parameters at School/teacher_login.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-25313 affects the Code-projects Simple School Management System version 1.0, specifically targeting the authentication mechanism within the School/teacher_login.php component. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the system's ability to properly verify user credentials and maintain access controls. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation and authentication handling that allows unauthorized access to the system's teacher login functionality. The flaw exists in the parameter processing logic where username and password values are not adequately sanitized or validated before being processed for authentication purposes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a lack of proper authentication controls and input validation within the PHP script. When users attempt to log in through the teacher_login.php endpoint, the system fails to properly validate the submitted credentials against the expected authentication schema. This creates an authentication bypass condition where malicious actors can potentially access the system without proper authorization. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in authentication mechanisms and aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication vulnerabilities. The flaw essentially allows for credential stuffing or brute force attacks to succeed due to insufficient validation of the authentication parameters.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to the school management system's security posture and data integrity. An attacker who exploits this vulnerability gains unauthorized access to teacher accounts, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications of student records, grade management, attendance tracking, and other sensitive educational data. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it could enable attackers to manipulate the entire school management database through the teacher login interface. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and could result in data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and potential regulatory compliance violations under data protection frameworks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows patterns consistent with attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Authentication Tactics category. Specifically, this flaw enables techniques such as credential access and privilege escalation by allowing attackers to bypass standard authentication mechanisms. Security professionals should consider implementing comprehensive monitoring of login attempts and access patterns to detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The system's failure to properly validate authentication parameters creates a pathway for attackers to gain access to privileged user accounts without proper authorization, which could lead to more extensive system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected application version to address the authentication bypass flaw in the teacher_login.php component. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization for all authentication parameters to prevent malicious input from bypassing security controls. Additionally, implementing account lockout mechanisms after failed login attempts, enforcing strong password policies, and deploying multi-factor authentication can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact if authentication bypass occurs. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the school management system. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts targeting authentication mechanisms.