CVE-2024-3769 in Student Record System
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2024
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in PHPGurukul Student Record System 3.20. Affected is an unknown function of the file /login.php. The manipulation of the argument id/password leads to sql injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-260616.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3769 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the PHPGurukul Student Record System version 3.20, specifically affecting the authentication mechanism in the /login.php file. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's login functionality, where user-supplied credentials are directly incorporated into sql queries without proper escaping or parameterization. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the id/password arguments during the authentication process, potentially enabling them to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database. This critical classification indicates the vulnerability's severe impact potential, as it can be exploited remotely without requiring any privileged access or prior authentication to the system. The vulnerability's disclosure to the public, as indicated by the VDB-260616 identifier, means that threat actors can readily leverage this flaw for unauthorized access to sensitive student data and system resources.
The technical implementation of this sql injection vulnerability occurs when the application processes user credentials through the /login.php endpoint without proper input validation. When an attacker supplies malicious input in either the username or password fields, the application fails to sanitize or escape these values before incorporating them into sql queries. This allows attackers to inject sql payload characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or sql comment sequences that alter the intended query structure. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication function where user credentials are verified against the database, making it particularly dangerous as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive information including student records, personal identification details, academic performance data, and potentially administrative credentials that could enable further unauthorized access to the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-3769 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive educational data. Organizations utilizing PHPGurukul Student Record System version 3.20 face significant risks including unauthorized modification of student records, data deletion, or even complete database takeover. The remote exploitability of this vulnerability means that attackers can target the system from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or network proximity. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-89 sql injection weakness and can be mapped to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1078 for valid accounts usage. The impact on educational institutions could be severe, potentially exposing personal information of thousands of students, violating privacy regulations, and compromising academic integrity. Additionally, the exploitation of this vulnerability could serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure, as attackers might use compromised credentials to escalate privileges or move laterally through the system.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this critical vulnerability. The primary remediation involves updating the PHPGurukul Student Record System to the latest version where the sql injection flaw has been patched and properly addressed. In the interim, implementing proper input validation and output encoding measures can help reduce the exploitation risk. Developers should ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized and that prepared statements or parameterized queries are utilized instead of dynamic sql construction. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for sql injection patterns and suspicious login attempts. Access controls should be strengthened with multi-factor authentication, account lockout mechanisms, and regular monitoring of login activities. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their educational data systems and implement proper data encryption both at rest and in transit to minimize the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as critical necessitates immediate action and continuous monitoring to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive student information and maintain compliance with educational data protection regulations.