CVE-2024-4650 in Complete Web-Based School Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 05/08/2024
A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Campcodes Complete Web-Based School Management System 1.0. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /view/student_due_payment.php. The manipulation of the argument due_month leads to cross site scripting. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-263494 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
This vulnerability resides within the Campcodes Complete Web-Based School Management System version 1.0, specifically in the student_due_payment.php file where improper input validation occurs. The flaw manifests when the due_month parameter is manipulated, creating a cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates significant security implications that could compromise user data and system integrity. This issue affects the web application's input handling mechanisms and demonstrates inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data before rendering in web responses. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable session hijacking, defacement of educational institution websites, or redirection to malicious domains. The remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this weakness without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for educational institutions that rely on web-based management systems. The public disclosure of this vulnerability through VDB-263494 indicates that threat actors have already identified and potentially begun exploiting this weakness, increasing the urgency for remediation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, representing one of the most common and dangerous web application security weaknesses. The attack vector involves sending crafted HTTP requests containing malicious payloads in the due_month parameter that gets reflected in the application's output without proper sanitization. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 which covers spearphishing through social media, as attackers could potentially use this XSS flaw to deliver malicious payloads to unsuspecting school personnel. The affected application's lack of proper input validation creates a persistent security gap that could be exploited for various malicious activities including credential theft, data exfiltration, or disruption of educational services. The vulnerability's presence in a school management system raises particular concerns about student data privacy and institutional security. The exploitation of this weakness could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive educational records, payment information, and personal details of students and staff members.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of the due_month parameter within the student_due_payment.php file. When user input is directly incorporated into web page output without proper encoding or validation, malicious scripts can execute in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability represents a failure in the application's security controls and demonstrates poor defensive programming practices. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated using various attack tools, making it particularly attractive to threat actors. The fact that this vulnerability has been publicly disclosed significantly reduces the time window for organizations to implement protective measures before exploitation occurs. Security professionals should recognize this as a critical vulnerability that requires immediate attention due to its public availability and the potential for widespread impact across educational institutions. The vulnerability's nature suggests that the application's input validation mechanisms are insufficient and fail to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before displaying it in web responses.
Organizations utilizing this school management system should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of Content Security Policies to prevent script execution. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper validation and encoding techniques before processing or displaying them in web applications. Security patches should be applied immediately if available from the vendor, or organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls as temporary protective measures. The implementation of proper input validation controls such as regular expressions to validate due_month parameter formats can prevent malicious input from being processed. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The use of security headers including Content-Security-Policy can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution. Regular security training for developers on secure coding practices and input validation techniques should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles. The vulnerability's classification as a remote exploit necessitates continuous monitoring of network traffic for suspicious activities related to this specific parameter manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to detect similar XSS vulnerabilities throughout their web applications and infrastructure.