CVE-2024-5118 in Event Registration System
Summary
by MITRE • 05/20/2024
A vulnerability has been found in SourceCodester Event Registration System 1.0 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /admin/login.php. The manipulation of the argument username/password leads to sql injection. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-265198 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2025
The CVE-2024-5118 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Event Registration System version 1.0, specifically targeting the administrative login functionality. This vulnerability exists in the /admin/login.php file and demonstrates a fundamental weakness in input validation and query construction that allows malicious actors to manipulate authentication processes. The flaw occurs when user credentials are processed through the username and password parameters, creating an exploitable condition that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper sanitization of user inputs within the sql query construction logic. When administrators attempt to log into the system through the administrative interface, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize the username and password values before incorporating them into database queries. This creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious sql payloads that manipulate the underlying database operations to either bypass authentication entirely or extract sensitive information from the database. The vulnerability's classification as critical reflects the severe impact potential, as successful exploitation could provide unauthorized access to administrative functions and potentially lead to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates multiple attack vectors for threat actors. Remote exploitation means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or network to launch attacks, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in internet-facing environments. The disclosure of this exploit to the public significantly increases the risk profile, as security researchers and malicious actors alike can now leverage this weakness. Attackers could potentially extract user credentials, modify system configurations, or even gain complete control over the event registration system's database, compromising all registered users and event data. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 sql injection, which is categorized under the weakness identification system for software security flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5118 should prioritize immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. Organizations should implement prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user inputs are never directly concatenated into sql commands. Additionally, the application should enforce strict input filtering and validation for all authentication parameters, implementing rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms to prevent brute force attacks. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 for exploit public-facing application and T1078 for valid accounts, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures that address both authentication bypass and credential compromise scenarios. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be implemented to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack.