Overview
A significant security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-55016, has been discovered in PHPGurukul Student Record Management System version 3.20. This flaw allows for SQL Injection through the id and password parameters within the login.php script. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could grant attackers unauthorized access to sensitive student data, system administration privileges, and potentially compromise the entire system.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides in the login.php file of PHPGurukul Student Record Management System 3.20. The application fails to properly sanitize or parameterize user-supplied input provided via the id and password parameters in the login form. This allows an attacker to inject arbitrary SQL code into the database query executed by the application. By crafting malicious input, an attacker can bypass authentication, retrieve database contents, modify data, or even execute arbitrary commands on the underlying server, depending on database permissions.
Example attack vector: An attacker could submit a modified login form with a malicious id value such as ' OR '1'='1. This crafted input, if not properly sanitized, would inject a condition that always evaluates to true, effectively bypassing the authentication check.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, a CVSS score has not been assigned to CVE-2024-55016. However, given the nature of SQL injection vulnerabilities and their potential for significant impact, a high severity rating is likely warranted. We recommend treating this vulnerability as critical until a formal CVSS score is available.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability can have severe consequences:
- Data Breach: Unauthorized access to student records, including personal information, academic history, and contact details.
- Account Takeover: Gaining control of administrator accounts, allowing attackers to modify system settings, create new users, and potentially deface the website.
- Data Manipulation: Altering student grades, attendance records, or other critical data.
- System Compromise: Depending on database permissions, attackers may be able to execute arbitrary commands on the server, leading to complete system compromise.
- Reputational Damage: A successful attack could severely damage the reputation of the educational institution or organization using the system.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2024-55016, the following steps should be taken immediately:
- Apply the Latest Patch: Check the PHPGurukul website for any available patches or updates that address this vulnerability. Apply the patch as soon as possible.
- Input Sanitization: Implement robust input validation and sanitization techniques to prevent malicious code from being injected into SQL queries. Use parameterized queries or prepared statements to ensure that user input is treated as data, not executable code.
- Principle of Least Privilege: Ensure that the database user account used by the application has only the necessary privileges. 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 SQL injection attempts. Configure the WAF with rules specific to preventing SQL injection attacks.
- Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in the application.
References
- CVE ID: CVE-2024-55016
- Exploit Details: CVE-2024-55016 Exploit Details
- PHPGurukul Student Record Management System: PHPGurukul Website
