Source: cna@vuldb.com
A security flaw has been discovered in itsourcecode School Management System 1.0. This affects an unknown part of the file /student/index.php. The manipulation of the argument ID results in sql injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been released to the public and may be used for attacks.
School Management System 1.0 is vulnerable to a critical SQL injection flaw, allowing attackers to remotely compromise the system by manipulating the ID parameter in /student/index.php. This vulnerability, with a publicly available exploit, enables unauthorized access to sensitive data and potentially complete system control, posing a significant risk to data confidentiality and integrity.
Step 1: Payload Delivery: The attacker crafts a malicious SQL injection payload designed to be injected into the ID parameter of a GET request.
Step 2: Request Submission: The attacker sends the crafted request to the vulnerable /student/index.php file, targeting the ID parameter.
Step 3: Query Execution: The application receives the request and, without proper sanitization, incorporates the attacker's payload directly into an SQL query.
Step 4: Database Interaction: The database server executes the modified SQL query, which now includes the attacker's malicious code.
Step 5: Data Exfiltration/Manipulation: Based on the injected SQL code, the attacker can then exfiltrate sensitive data (e.g., student records, credentials), modify existing data, or potentially gain administrative access to the database and the underlying system.
The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper input validation and sanitization of the ID parameter within the /student/index.php file. Specifically, the application directly incorporates user-supplied input from the ID parameter into an SQL query without any filtering or escaping. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code, altering the intended query logic and enabling unauthorized data retrieval, modification, or even system takeover. The root cause is a failure to implement parameterized queries or use prepared statements, which are crucial for preventing SQL injection attacks. The absence of these security measures allows the attacker to craft a payload that modifies the database query, leading to the execution of arbitrary SQL commands. This is a classic example of a blind SQL injection vulnerability, as the attacker may not see the direct output of the query but can infer information based on the application's behavior.
While no specific APT groups are directly linked to this CVE, the public availability of the exploit and the nature of the target (school management system) suggest that opportunistic attackers and potentially script kiddies are likely to be involved. Nation-state actors may also be interested in this vulnerability for espionage purposes. The vulnerability is not currently listed on the CISA KEV catalog, but its severity and the availability of a public exploit warrant close monitoring.
Monitor web server logs for suspicious HTTP requests to /student/index.php with unusual ID parameter values (e.g., containing SQL keywords like SELECT, UNION, OR, AND, or special characters like single quotes).
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block SQL injection attempts based on signature-based and behavior-based analysis.
Analyze database query logs for unusual activity, such as unexpected query patterns or attempts to access sensitive tables.
Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) to identify malicious network traffic patterns associated with SQL injection attacks.
Monitor for changes to critical system files, especially those related to database access or student data management.
Implement parameterized queries or prepared statements in the application code to prevent SQL injection. This separates the SQL code from the user-supplied input, preventing malicious code from being executed.
Sanitize and validate all user-supplied input before using it in SQL queries. This includes escaping special characters and filtering out potentially harmful keywords.
Apply the latest security patches for the School Management System 1.0. If no patch is available, consider a complete code review and refactoring of the vulnerable code.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter malicious traffic and block SQL injection attempts.
Enforce the principle of least privilege for database users. Grant database users only the necessary permissions to access the data they need.
Regularly back up the database to ensure data recovery in case of a successful attack.
Conduct regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to identify and address security weaknesses.