CVE-2024-40074 in Online ID Generator System
Summary
by MITRE • 04/16/2025
Sourcecodester Online ID Generator System 1.0 was discovered to contain Stored Cross Site Scripting (XSS) via id_generator/classes/SystemSettings.php?f=update_settings, and the point of vulnerability is in the POST parameter 'short_name'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-40074 resides within the Sourcecodester Online ID Generator System version 1.0, a web application designed for generating identification numbers. This system suffers from a critical stored cross site scripting flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's database, which then executes when other users access the affected pages. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the SystemSettings.php file where the application processes updates to system configurations, making it a prime target for persistent malicious code injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical flaw occurs within the POST parameter 'short_name' which is used to update system settings in the application's configuration management interface. When an attacker submits malicious script code through this parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before storing it in the database. This stored data is then retrieved and displayed without adequate security measures, allowing the malicious script to execute within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize or encode user-provided data before including it in output, and represents a classic case of stored XSS where the malicious payload persists in the application's backend storage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. Since the vulnerability affects the system settings update functionality, attackers could manipulate core application parameters to redirect users to malicious sites or inject additional malicious code into other system components. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over extended periods. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves using malicious code to gain access to systems, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures throughout the application's data handling processes. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper encoding techniques before storing data in the database, particularly for the 'short_name' parameter and similar configuration fields. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and using secure coding practices such as parameterized queries can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also establish regular security audits of their web applications, implement proper access controls for system configuration updates, and consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and prevent such attacks. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing cross site scripting attacks, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten Project recommendations for web application security.