CVE-2024-42567 in School Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2024
School Management System commit bae5aa was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the sid parameter at /search.php?action=2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2024
The School Management System version containing commit bae5aa presents a critical security flaw that allows unauthorized users to execute malicious SQL commands through improper input validation. This vulnerability specifically manifests through the sid parameter within the search.php script when the action parameter equals 2, creating an exploitable pathway for attackers to manipulate database queries. The flaw represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability that violates fundamental security principles of input sanitization and query parameterization.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk weakness in software security. The attack vector exploits the system's failure to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into database queries. When an attacker supplies malicious input through the sid parameter, the application processes this data without adequate sanitization, allowing the injected SQL code to execute within the database context. The specific endpoint /search.php?action=2 creates a predictable attack surface where the sid parameter becomes the primary injection point.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potentially full database access and control over the school management system's underlying data infrastructure. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive student information, academic records, personal details, and administrative data. The vulnerability also permits privilege escalation attacks where malicious actors might gain elevated database permissions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Database administrators and school personnel face significant risks including data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences due to unauthorized data access.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase, particularly within the search.php script. All user-supplied inputs should be sanitized and validated against expected data formats before processing, with strict type checking and length limitations applied to the sid parameter. The system should adopt prepared statements and parameterized queries to ensure that user input cannot alter the intended SQL command structure. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with SQL injection detection capabilities provides an additional layer of protection. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities throughout the application, while access controls and database permissions should be strictly enforced to limit potential damage from any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks for preventing injection attacks.