CVE-2024-7367 in Simple Realtime Quiz System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2024
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in SourceCodester Simple Realtime Quiz System 1.0. This affects an unknown part of the file /ajax.php?action=save_user. The manipulation leads to cross-site request forgery. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-273351.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7367 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the SourceCodester Simple Realtime Quiz System version 1.0. This security weakness resides in the /ajax.php?action=save_user endpoint, which serves as a critical interface for user data handling within the application. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates a significant risk to system integrity and user data protection, particularly given that the exploit has been publicly disclosed and is potentially accessible to malicious actors. The affected component operates within the web application's backend processing layer, where user interactions are translated into server-side operations, making it a prime target for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper request validation mechanisms within the save_user action handler. When a user submits data through the quiz system's interface, the application fails to implement anti-CSRF tokens or other sufficient validation measures to verify that requests originate from legitimate user sessions. This omission creates a scenario where an attacker can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users, exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and its users. The vulnerability specifically affects the AJAX endpoint that handles user data persistence, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to manipulate user accounts, modify quiz results, or potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it can enable attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. Remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network presence, significantly expanding the attack surface. The disclosed exploit suggests that malicious actors can construct requests that automatically submit quiz answers, modify user profiles, or potentially create new user accounts with elevated privileges. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the risk of insufficient logging and monitoring, and falls under the CWE-352 category for Cross-Site Request Forgery. The potential for persistent damage increases when considering that quiz systems often contain sensitive user information and may be used in educational or professional assessment contexts where data integrity is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-7367 should prioritize immediate implementation of anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the affected AJAX endpoint. The solution involves generating unique, unpredictable tokens for each user session and validating these tokens with every request to the save_user action. Additionally, implementing proper origin validation and referrer header checks can provide additional layers of protection against cross-site request forgery attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict the sources from which scripts can be executed, further reducing the attack surface. The vulnerability's classification as publicly disclosed underscores the urgency of remediation, as attackers can readily exploit this weakness without requiring advanced technical skills. Regular security assessments and input validation improvements should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other application components, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's recommendations for preventing credential access and privilege escalation techniques. System administrators should also monitor for any unauthorized activities following remediation efforts, as the vulnerability may have been exploited prior to discovery.