CVE-2024-5895 in Employee and Visitor Gate Pass Logging System
Summary
by MITRE • 06/12/2024
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in SourceCodester Employee and Visitor Gate Pass Logging System 1.0. This issue affects the function delete_users of the file /classes/Users.php?f=delete. The manipulation of the argument id leads to sql injection. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-268139.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5895 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Employee and Visitor Gate Pass Logging System version 1.0. This system, designed for managing employee and visitor access logs, contains a dangerous weakness in its user deletion functionality that could enable unauthorized data access and system compromise. The vulnerability specifically resides in the delete_users function located within the /classes/Users.php file, where the id parameter is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. This critical weakness allows attackers to manipulate the id argument in ways that can execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data theft.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and parameter handling within the application's backend code. When the delete_users function processes the id parameter, it fails to implement proper sql escaping or parameterized queries, creating an environment where malicious input can alter the intended sql statement structure. The vulnerability's classification as critical reflects the ease with which remote attackers can exploit this flaw through the web interface, as the attack vector does not require special privileges or complex preconditions. The public disclosure of the exploit (VDB-268139) further amplifies the risk, as malicious actors can immediately leverage this knowledge to target vulnerable installations without requiring additional reconnaissance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, encompassing complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within affected networks. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to extract sensitive employee and visitor information, modify access controls, or even escalate privileges to gain administrative access to the application. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers need only access the web application to initiate attacks, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that do not maintain strict network segmentation. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 sql injection, which is categorized under the CWE top 25 most dangerous software weaknesses, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in application design.
Organizations utilizing this vulnerable system must implement immediate mitigations to protect against exploitation. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries within the delete_users function to ensure that user-supplied id parameters cannot influence sql statement structure. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts. The implementation of principle of least privilege should also be enforced, limiting database permissions for the application user to only those operations necessary for legitimate functionality. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues throughout the application codebase and implement regular security testing procedures. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in preventing sql injection attacks, as outlined in the mitre ATT&CK framework under the technique of sql injection and the broader category of credential access and privilege escalation.