CVE-2024-27685 in Student Record System
Summary
by MITRE • 06/25/2025
SQL Injection vulnerability in Student Record system Using PHP and MySQL v.3.20 allows a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information via a crafted payload to the $cshortname, $cfullname, and $cdate variables.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2025
The CVE-2024-27685 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within a student record management system built with PHP and MySQL version 3.20. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote exploitation where attackers can manipulate database queries through specifically crafted inputs targeting three distinct variables: $cshortname, $cfullname, and $cdate. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query constructs. This weakness allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that can manipulate the database structure and retrieve unauthorized information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a fundamental flaw in application security where untrusted data is directly included in SQL commands without proper sanitization. The attack vector operates through HTTP request parameters that are processed by the PHP application layer and subsequently passed to MySQL database queries. When an attacker crafts malicious payloads targeting the $cshortname, $cfullname, or $cdate variables, they can potentially execute commands such as UNION SELECT statements, DROP TABLE operations, or other database manipulation techniques. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data retrieval as it can enable full database compromise including privilege escalation and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to educational institutions relying on the affected student record system. The exposure of sensitive student information through SQL injection attacks can result in data breaches affecting thousands of individuals, potentially leading to identity theft, academic fraud, and regulatory violations under data protection laws such as FERPA in the United States. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system or network. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract personal information, academic records, grades, and other confidential data that would normally be protected within the database environment. The vulnerability also enables potential denial of service conditions and data corruption scenarios that can severely impact institutional operations and academic services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-27685 should prioritize immediate implementation of parameterized queries and prepared statements to prevent user input from being interpreted as SQL commands. The system should enforce strict input validation and sanitization across all variables, particularly the three identified vulnerable parameters. Organizations must implement proper access controls and privilege management to limit database access rights for the application. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block malicious SQL injection attempts. The affected system should be updated to the latest version of the student record management software where patches are available. Security monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect anomalous database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader application ecosystem. Implementation of the principle of least privilege and defense-in-depth strategies will provide additional layers of protection against exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, emphasizing the need for comprehensive application security measures and regular vulnerability assessments to maintain secure system configurations.