PHPGurukul Student Record System 3.20: SQL Injection Threat – CVE-2024-44632

Overview

CVE-2024-44632 details an SQL Injection vulnerability found in the PHPGurukul Student Record System version 3.20. This vulnerability resides within the password-recovery.php script and can be exploited through the id and emailid parameters. Successful exploitation can allow attackers to potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify database contents, or even compromise the entire system. This article provides a detailed analysis of the vulnerability, its potential impact, and recommended mitigation steps.

Technical Details

The password-recovery.php script is intended to allow users to recover their passwords. However, the input validation for the id and emailid parameters is insufficient. This lack of proper sanitization allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code into the database query. The vulnerable code likely constructs an SQL query using these parameters directly, without proper escaping or parameterization.

For example, a malicious user could craft a URL like this:

password-recovery.php?id=1' OR '1'='1&emailid=test@example.com

This crafted input could bypass authentication mechanisms and grant the attacker access to other user accounts or sensitive information stored within the database.

CVSS Analysis

Currently, the CVSS score for CVE-2024-44632 is listed as N/A, indicating that a formal CVSS score has not yet been assigned. However, given the nature of SQL Injection vulnerabilities, it’s highly likely that upon assessment, it will receive a HIGH or CRITICAL severity rating. SQL injection vulnerabilities can lead to significant data breaches and system compromise.

Possible Impact

The potential impact of CVE-2024-44632 is significant. Successful exploitation could lead to:

• Data Breach: Unauthorized access to student records, including personal information, grades, and contact details.
• Account Takeover: Attackers could gain control of administrative accounts, allowing them to manipulate the system and access sensitive data.
• Data Manipulation: The database can be modified, leading to corrupted records, fraudulent entries, or denial of service.
• System Compromise: In severe 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 posed by CVE-2024-44632, the following steps are recommended:

• Apply the Patch: The most effective solution is to apply the official patch released by PHPGurukul, if available. Check their website for updates.
• Input Sanitization: Implement robust input validation and sanitization on the id and emailid parameters in the password-recovery.php script. Use prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection.
• Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block malicious requests attempting to exploit the vulnerability. Configure the WAF with rules specifically designed to protect against SQL injection attacks.
• Least Privilege: Ensure that the database user account used by the application has only the necessary privileges. Avoid granting excessive permissions.
• Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in the system.

Code Example (Prepared Statement – PHP):

<?php
$id = $_GET['id'];
$emailid = $_GET['emailid'];

$servername = "localhost";
$username = "your_db_username";
$password = "your_db_password";
$dbname = "your_db_name";

// Create connection
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

// Check connection
if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}

// Prepare and bind
$stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ? AND email = ?");
$stmt->bind_param("ss", $id, $emailid);  // 'ss' indicates string parameters

// Execute the statement
$stmt->execute();

// Get the result
$result = $stmt->get_result();

if ($result->num_rows > 0) {
    // Output data of each row
    while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
        echo "id: " . $row["id"]. " - Name: " . $row["name"]. "<br>";
    }
} else {
    echo "0 results";
}

$stmt->close();
$conn->close();
?>
        

Important: Replace the database credentials with your actual database credentials. This is just an example, adapt it to your specific code.

References

• CVE-2024-44632 on GitHub
• PHPGurukul Student Record System