CVE-2024-9296 in Advocate Office Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 09/28/2024
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Advocate Office Management System 1.0. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the file /control/forgot_pass.php. The manipulation of the argument username leads to sql injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2024
The CVE-2024-9296 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the SourceCodester Advocate Office Management System version 1.0, specifically within the /control/forgot_pass.php file. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms in the username parameter processing, creating a dangerous attack vector that allows remote exploitation. The flaw exists in the application's authentication recovery mechanism where user-supplied username data is directly incorporated into sql query construction without proper parameterization or escaping. This critical weakness enables attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input, potentially compromising the entire system's data integrity and confidentiality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a specially crafted username parameter to the forgot_pass.php endpoint. The application fails to properly sanitize this input before incorporating it into sql statements, allowing sql injection payloads to be executed against the underlying database. This flaw falls under CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous for web applications. The disclosed exploit status indicates that malicious actors can readily leverage this vulnerability without requiring advanced technical skills.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-9296 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within affected networks. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive user credentials, personal information, and potentially gain administrative privileges within the advocate office management system. The vulnerability's critical classification reflects the potential for widespread data exposure and system disruption, as it affects core authentication functionality that likely handles user account recovery requests. Organizations utilizing this system face significant risk of unauthorized access to legal case files, client information, and internal communications that could result in regulatory violations, financial losses, and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-9296 must prioritize immediate remediation through proper input validation and parameterized query implementation. The most effective defense involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions, ensuring that user input cannot alter sql command structure. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block sql injection attempts, conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, and apply the latest security patches from the vendor if available. Additional protective measures include restricting database permissions for application accounts, implementing proper error handling to prevent information disclosure, and establishing monitoring systems to detect suspicious authentication recovery attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities throughout the application architecture.