CVE-2024-2572 in Employee Task Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 03/18/2024
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Employee Task Management System 1.0. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /task-details.php. The manipulation leads to execution after redirect. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-257075.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2572 represents a critical security flaw within the SourceCodester Employee Task Management System version 1.0, specifically targeting the /task-details.php file processing functionality. This vulnerability has been classified as a critical risk due to its potential for remote exploitation and the severity of its impact on system security. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user inputs within the task details processing module, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the application's normal execution flow. Security researchers have documented this vulnerability with the identifier VDB-257075, indicating it has been publicly disclosed and is actively being used in the wild, which significantly increases the risk to affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding within the /task-details.php file, which allows for execution after redirect attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-642 category of Weaknesses in Input Handling, specifically related to improper handling of redirects and forwardings. When users interact with the task details functionality, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate parameters that control the redirect behavior, enabling attackers to inject malicious payloads that will execute after the redirect occurs. The attack vector is entirely remote, meaning no local access is required, and attackers can exploit this vulnerability through web-based interfaces without needing physical system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform arbitrary code execution within the context of the web application. This could lead to complete system compromise, data theft, unauthorized access to employee records, and potential lateral movement within network environments where the application resides. The execution after redirect mechanism allows attackers to bypass certain security controls that might normally prevent direct code injection, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. Organizations running this version of the Employee Task Management System are at significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches, as the exploit is already publicly available and actively being used by threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-2572 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected application to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability. System administrators must implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding controls within the /task-details.php file to prevent malicious parameter manipulation. Network segmentation and web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and block suspicious traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and T1566.001 for Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers may use this vulnerability to establish persistent access and deliver additional payloads. Organizations should also consider implementing least privilege access controls and regular security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.