CVE-2024-5374 in College Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 05/26/2024
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Kashipara College Management System 1.0. Affected is an unknown function of the file submit_new_faculty.php. The manipulation of the argument address leads to cross site scripting. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-266286 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2025
This cross site scripting vulnerability exists within the Kashipara College Management System version 1.0, specifically within the submit_new_faculty.php file where the address parameter is improperly handled. The flaw represents a classic input validation issue that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary javascript code through the address field, which then executes in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected content. This vulnerability has been assigned the identifier VDB-266286 and has been publicly disclosed, making it accessible to potential attackers who may already be developing exploit code for this specific weakness.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization and output encoding of user-supplied input data. When the address parameter is submitted through the faculty registration form, the system fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or javascript markup. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads such as <script>alert('xss')</script> or more sophisticated attack vectors that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in a college management system where multiple users may have access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the college network environment. An attacker could potentially use this XSS vector to establish persistent access through session hijacking, create backdoor accounts, or harvest sensitive educational data from authenticated users including student records, faculty information, and administrative details. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or local network, allowing them to target users from anywhere on the internet.
Security mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user inputs including the address field through proper HTML entity encoding before rendering any content in web pages. Implementing a Content Security Policy header can provide additional protection by restricting script execution and preventing unauthorized code injection. Additionally, the system should employ parameterized queries and input validation libraries to prevent various injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious traffic patterns associated with XSS attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which classifies cross site scripting flaws in web applications and maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the initial access and execution phases, specifically targeting web application vulnerabilities that enable persistent threat actor presence within educational institutions.