CVE-2024-3413 in Human Resource Information System
Summary
by MITRE • 04/06/2024
A vulnerability has been found in SourceCodester Human Resource Information System 1.0 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file initialize/login_process.php. The manipulation of the argument hr_email/hr_password leads to sql injection. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-259582 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2025
This critical vulnerability exists within the SourceCodester Human Resource Information System version 1.0, specifically targeting the initialize/login_process.php file. The flaw represents a classic sql injection vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate database operations through carefully crafted input parameters. The vulnerability is triggered when the hr_email and hr_password arguments are processed, creating an attack surface that can be exploited remotely without requiring any special privileges or authentication. The disclosure of this exploit in public repositories significantly increases the risk to organizations utilizing this system, as malicious actors can readily implement the attack vectors without requiring advanced technical skills.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the authentication process. When user credentials are submitted through the login interface, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize the input values before incorporating them into sql queries. This allows an attacker to inject malicious sql code that can manipulate the database behavior, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates that it can be exploited without user interaction and can result in severe consequences including complete database compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches involving sensitive human resource information. Attackers can leverage this sql injection to extract employee records, personal identification details, salary information, and other confidential data stored within the system. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can target vulnerable systems from anywhere on the internet, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that have not implemented proper network segmentation or access controls. Organizations using this system may face regulatory compliance violations, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences from data breaches resulting from this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the affected system with the vendor-provided security update. Until a patch is available, organizations should implement network-level controls including firewall rules that restrict access to the vulnerable application, implement web application firewalls to detect and block sql injection attempts, and consider disabling unnecessary database access permissions for the application user account. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially vulnerable applications within their environment that may be using similar code patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 sql injection and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit public-facing application, emphasizing the need for proper input validation and secure coding practices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper parameterized queries and input sanitization measures to prevent such attacks.