Source: cna@vuldb.com
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in PHPGurukul Land Record System 1.0. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /admin/login.php. The manipulation of the argument username leads to sql injection. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
Critical vulnerability CVE-2024-13085 in PHPGurukul Land Record System 1.0 allows for remote SQL injection via the /admin/login.php file, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Exploitation is straightforward, and a public exploit is available, posing a significant risk to affected systems.
Step 1: Payload Delivery: The attacker crafts a malicious SQL injection payload designed to be inserted into the username field of the login form located at /admin/login.php. This payload is specifically designed to manipulate the SQL query executed by the application.
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the username parameter within the /admin/login.php file. The application directly incorporates user-supplied input into an SQL query without proper escaping or filtering. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code, enabling them to bypass authentication, extract sensitive data (e.g., usernames, passwords, land records), and potentially execute arbitrary commands on the database server. The root cause is a lack of parameterized queries or prepared statements, which are crucial for preventing SQL injection. The absence of input validation allows for the injection of SQL commands that alter the intended query logic.
While no specific APT groups are directly linked to this CVE, the ease of exploitation and the availability of a public PoC make it attractive to a wide range of threat actors, including script kiddies and financially motivated groups. This vulnerability could be leveraged in ransomware attacks or data theft campaigns. CISA KEV: Not Applicable (as of this analysis).
Network Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) should be configured to detect SQL injection attempts. Look for suspicious patterns in HTTP POST requests to /admin/login.php, specifically in the username parameter. Examples include: single quotes, double quotes, comments (e.g., --, #), and SQL keywords (e.g., SELECT, UPDATE, INSERT, DROP).
Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) can be deployed to filter malicious requests. WAFs can be configured to block requests containing SQL injection payloads.
Review web server access logs for unusual activity, such as repeated failed login attempts or unusually long requests to /admin/login.php.
Database server logs should be monitored for suspicious queries or errors related to SQL injection attempts.
File integrity monitoring should be enabled to detect any unauthorized changes to the /admin/login.php file or related files.
Implement parameterized queries or prepared statements in the application code. This is the most effective way to prevent SQL injection. Replace direct string concatenation with parameterized queries, where user input is treated as data, not code.
Sanitize and validate all user inputs. Use input validation to ensure that the username field contains only expected characters and formats. This can include whitelisting acceptable characters and limiting the length of the input.
Apply the latest security patches provided by the vendor. This may include fixes for the SQL injection vulnerability.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter malicious requests.
Enforce the principle of least privilege. The database user used by the application should have only the necessary permissions to perform its tasks. This limits the impact of a successful SQL injection attack.
Regularly scan the application for vulnerabilities using automated tools and manual penetration testing.
Review and update the application's code to remove any instances of insecure coding practices.