CVE-2024-53635 in COVID 19 Testing Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 11/27/2024
A Reflected Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability was found in /covid-tms/patient-search-report.php in PHPGurukul COVID 19 Testing Management System v1.0, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the searchdata POST request parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2025
The CVE-2024-53635 vulnerability represents a critical reflected cross site scripting flaw within the PHPGurukul COVID 19 Testing Management System version 1.0. This vulnerability specifically affects the /covid-tms/patient-search-report.php endpoint where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being reflected back to the browser. The flaw exists in the handling of the searchdata POST request parameter, which creates an attack vector that can be exploited by remote malicious actors without requiring any authentication or privileged access. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross site scripting as a common weakness where untrusted data is directly included in web pages without proper validation or encoding.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through the searchdata parameter in a POST request to the affected php file. When the application processes this input and reflects it back in the response without proper sanitization, the malicious script code gets executed within the context of the victim's browser. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can inject malicious javascript code that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the attack payload must be crafted to be included in the request that generates the response containing the malicious code, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely heavily on user input for dynamic content generation.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-53635 extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the application's context. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive patient information, or manipulate the application's functionality to compromise the integrity of the COVID-19 testing management system. Given that this system handles patient data, the implications are particularly severe as it could lead to unauthorized access to medical records, data breaches, and potential violations of healthcare privacy regulations. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to escalate their privileges within the application if they can manipulate the search functionality to access restricted areas or perform administrative actions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding before any output is rendered to the browser. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. The application should also employ proper parameter validation to ensure that only expected data types and formats are accepted. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability falls under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the web application layer. Organizations should also implement regular security scanning and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as this type of flaw is commonly found in web applications that do not properly validate user inputs or implement secure coding practices. The remediation process should include thorough testing of all input handling mechanisms and the implementation of automated security controls to prevent similar issues in future releases.