CVE-2024-3416 in Online Courseware
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2024
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in SourceCodester Online Courseware 1.0. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file admin/editt.php. The manipulation of the argument id leads to sql injection. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-259588.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3416 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Online Courseware 1.0 application, specifically impacting the admin/editt.php file. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation when processing the id parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input. The sql injection vulnerability exists in the administrative interface, specifically in the edit functionality where user-supplied id values are directly incorporated into database queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The attack vector is remote, meaning that an attacker can exploit this vulnerability from outside the local network without requiring physical access or prior authentication within the system. This remote exploit capability significantly amplifies the potential impact as it allows for widespread exploitation from any location with internet access. The vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and is actively being used in the wild, as indicated by the VDB-259588 identifier which tracks its exposure in vulnerability databases. The presence of a publicly available exploit further compounds the severity of this issue, as it eliminates the need for advanced technical skills to leverage the vulnerability. The flaw falls under the category of CWE-89 sql injection as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration, which specifically addresses the improper handling of sql queries where user input is directly incorporated into database commands. From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database, potentially leading to data exfiltration, data corruption, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and complete database compromise. The administrative context of the vulnerable file suggests that successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges within the application's database, potentially allowing them to modify or delete course content, user accounts, or other critical administrative data. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers may use the sql injection to establish persistence or exfiltrate data through database connections, though the primary technique is the sql injection itself. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers could potentially escalate privileges, create backdoors, or use the compromised system as a staging ground for further attacks within the network. Organizations running this vulnerable software face significant risk of unauthorized access to their courseware database, which may contain sensitive user information, course materials, and administrative data. The vulnerability's critical classification indicates that it poses a severe threat to system integrity and data confidentiality, requiring immediate attention and remediation.
The exploitation of this sql injection vulnerability in the admin/editt.php file demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation and query construction practices. The lack of proper parameterization or input sanitization means that any value passed to the id parameter can be interpreted by the sql engine as part of the query structure rather than as data. This creates a pathway for attackers to inject malicious sql code that can manipulate the database in unintended ways. The remote nature of the attack means that this vulnerability can be exploited by anyone with access to the web application, without requiring any special privileges or local system access. The disclosure of the exploit in public vulnerability databases indicates that security researchers and malicious actors have already identified and documented the method of exploitation, making the system vulnerable to immediate attack. The specific targeting of the admin/editt.php file suggests that the vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it affects the administrative functionality of the courseware system, potentially allowing attackers to modify or delete course content, user accounts, or other critical administrative data. This vulnerability represents a clear violation of secure coding practices and demonstrates the importance of implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. The combination of the critical severity rating, public exploit availability, and remote attack capability makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous for any organization using this software version.
Organizations affected by CVE-2024-3416 must implement immediate remediation measures to protect their systems from exploitation. The primary mitigation strategy involves applying the vendor-provided security patch or upgrade to the SourceCodester Online Courseware application to address the sql injection vulnerability in the admin/editt.php file. Until a patch is available, organizations should implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block sql injection attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. Input validation should be strengthened to ensure that all user-supplied id parameters are properly sanitized before being used in database queries. The implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements should be enforced throughout the application to prevent sql injection attacks. Additionally, organizations should conduct immediate vulnerability assessments to identify any other potential sql injection vulnerabilities within the application or related systems. Access controls should be reviewed to ensure that administrative functions are properly secured and that only authorized users can access the admin/editt.php functionality. Network segmentation should be considered to limit the potential impact of exploitation, and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious database activity or unauthorized access attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping all software components updated and maintaining current security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Security awareness training should be provided to administrators to ensure they understand the risks associated with running vulnerable software and the importance of timely patch management. The incident should be documented and reported to relevant security teams, and incident response procedures should be activated to assess the potential impact on system integrity and data confidentiality. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring to detect and respond to unauthorized sql commands that may result from exploitation attempts.