CVE-2024-7196 in Complaints Report Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 07/29/2024
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Complaints Report Management System 1.0. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /admin/ajax.php?action=login. The manipulation of the argument username leads to sql injection. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-272617 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7196 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Complaints Report Management System version 1.0. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative authentication mechanism through the /admin/ajax.php?action=login endpoint, making it a severe threat to the system's integrity and security posture. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the username parameter, which allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the database query execution flow. This critical weakness enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions and data within the complaints management system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote manipulation of the username argument in the login request, where attacker-controlled input is directly incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. This allows for full sql injection attacks that can extract database contents, modify user credentials, or even execute system commands depending on the database backend configuration. The vulnerability's classification as critical stems from its ability to provide remote code execution capabilities and complete system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) for initial access and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) for reconnaissance activities. The CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) classification for this issue aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities that occur when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into sql commands without proper validation.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-7196 extends beyond simple authentication bypass to encompass complete database compromise and potential data exfiltration from the complaints management system. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive complaint records, user information, system configurations, and potentially escalate privileges to gain full administrative control over the application. The public disclosure of the exploit (VDB-272617) significantly increases the risk exposure as threat actors can readily implement the attack without requiring advanced technical skills. Organizations running this vulnerable system face substantial risks including regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate system but also any downstream applications or services that may rely on the compromised data integrity, making the impact far-reaching and potentially cascading across networked environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-7196 must prioritize immediate remediation through proper input validation and parameterized query implementation to prevent sql injection attacks. Organizations should implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts, apply the latest security patches from the vendor if available, and conduct comprehensive security assessments of the application's authentication mechanisms. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper logging and monitoring systems around authentication endpoints will aid in detecting unauthorized access attempts. Security teams should also consider adopting the principle of least privilege for database connections and implementing database activity monitoring to identify suspicious sql query patterns. Regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, ensuring comprehensive protection against sql injection threats that align with industry best practices outlined in standards such as NIST SP 800-45 and OWASP Top 10.