CVE-2024-5397 in Online Student Enrollment System
Summary
by MITRE • 05/27/2024
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in itsourcecode Online Student Enrollment System 1.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file instructorSubjects.php. The manipulation of the argument instructorId leads to sql injection. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-266311.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5397 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the itsourcecode Online Student Enrollment System version 1.0. This system serves educational institutions by managing student enrollment processes and related academic data. The vulnerability specifically resides in the instructorSubjects.php file which handles instructor-related subject assignments and course management functionalities. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the instructorId parameter through direct input manipulation, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure. This represents a severe security risk as the system likely contains sensitive academic information, student records, and institutional data that could be accessed or modified by unauthorized parties.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through sql injection attacks that target the instructorSubjects.php script. When the system processes the instructorId parameter without proper sanitization or input validation, malicious users can inject sql commands that bypass authentication mechanisms and directly interact with the underlying database. This allows attackers to extract sensitive information, modify academic records, delete critical data, or even escalate privileges within the system. The remote exploit capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the network or system, as the vulnerability can be triggered through web-based attacks. The disclosed exploit code available in VDB-266311 indicates that this vulnerability has already been weaponized by threat actors, increasing the risk of active exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification. Educational institutions relying on this system face potential disruption of academic processes, compromise of student privacy, and potential regulatory violations under data protection laws. The sql injection vulnerability could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to the database, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's credential access and persistence tactics. Organizations may experience reputational damage, legal consequences, and operational disruption if this vulnerability is exploited successfully.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5397 should prioritize immediate remediation through proper input validation and parameterized queries implementation. System administrators must ensure that all user inputs, particularly those used in database queries, undergo rigorous sanitization before processing. The recommended approach involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of the entire enrollment system, implement web application firewalls, and establish proper access controls. Regular security updates and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the system. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, emphasizing the need for defensive programming techniques to prevent such critical flaws in future system development cycles.