Overview
CVE-2024-44633 identifies a critical SQL Injection vulnerability found in PHPGurukul Student Record System version 3.20. This vulnerability allows a malicious actor to potentially execute arbitrary SQL queries against the system’s database by exploiting a flaw in the change-password.php script. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or even complete database compromise.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides within the change-password.php script, specifically in the handling of the currentpassword parameter. The application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input for this parameter before incorporating it into an SQL query. As a result, an attacker can inject malicious SQL code within the currentpassword field, potentially bypassing authentication mechanisms and gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data. The lack of prepared statements and input validation are the root cause of this security flaw.
CVSS Analysis
Due to the incomplete information provided, the CVSS score and severity are currently unavailable (N/A). However, SQL Injection vulnerabilities are generally considered high severity due to the potential for significant impact. A complete CVSS analysis would require further investigation to determine exploitability factors, scope, and impact metrics.
Possible Impact
Exploitation of this SQL Injection vulnerability can have severe consequences:
- Data Breach: An attacker can gain unauthorized access to sensitive student data, including personal information, academic records, and financial details.
- Data Manipulation: The attacker can modify or delete existing data, leading to inaccurate records and system instability.
- Account Takeover: By manipulating user credentials, an attacker can gain control of administrator accounts, granting them full access to the system.
- System Compromise: In some cases, the attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code on the server, leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
To mitigate the risk of CVE-2024-44633, the following steps should be taken:
- Upgrade: The primary recommendation is to upgrade to a patched version of PHPGurukul Student Record System, if available. Check the official PHPGurukul website for updates.
- Input Validation: Implement robust input validation on all user-supplied data, especially the
currentpasswordparameter inchange-password.php. Use a whitelist approach, allowing only expected characters and formats. - Prepared Statements: Replace dynamic SQL queries with parameterized prepared statements. This prevents the injection of malicious SQL code by treating user input as data rather than executable code.
- Least Privilege Principle: Ensure that the database user account used by the application has only the necessary privileges to perform its functions. Avoid granting excessive permissions that could be exploited by an attacker.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) to detect and block malicious SQL Injection attempts.
