CVE-2019-25320: E Learning Script Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2019-25320 Overview

E Learning Script 1.0 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to access the dashboard without valid credentials by manipulating login parameters. Attackers can exploit the /login.php file by sending a specific payload =''or' to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access to the system. This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) enables remote attackers to circumvent authentication controls entirely, potentially compromising all user data and administrative functions within the e-learning platform.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated remote attackers can bypass authentication and gain full administrative access to the E Learning Script dashboard, potentially compromising all student and instructor data, course content, and system configurations.

Affected Products

• E Learning Script 1.0
• E Learning Script (all versions prior to security fix)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-12 - CVE CVE-2019-25320 published to NVD
• 2026-02-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25320

Vulnerability Analysis

This authentication bypass vulnerability stems from improper input validation in the login functionality of E Learning Script 1.0. The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL statements that alter the query logic. By crafting a payload that evaluates to true in the SQL WHERE clause, an attacker can trick the application into believing valid credentials were supplied when none were provided.

The vulnerability exists in the /login.php endpoint, where user credentials are processed without adequate protection against SQL injection attacks. This allows an unauthenticated attacker with network access to completely bypass the authentication mechanism and access protected areas of the application.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands (CWE-89). The login functionality directly incorporates user input into SQL queries without using parameterized queries, prepared statements, or proper input sanitization. This allows SQL metacharacters to be interpreted as part of the query structure rather than as literal data values.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft a malicious HTTP request to the /login.php endpoint containing the SQL injection payload =''or' in the username or password field. This payload manipulates the SQL query to always return true, effectively bypassing the credential verification process. The attack complexity is low, requiring only basic knowledge of SQL injection techniques.

The vulnerability is documented in Exploit-DB #47811, which provides technical details about the exploitation method. Additional information can be found in the VulnCheck Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25320

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual login activity with SQL special characters (', ", or, =) in authentication logs
• Successful authentication events without corresponding valid credential usage
• Access to administrative dashboard from unexpected IP addresses or geographic locations
• Database query logs showing malformed or suspicious SQL statements in authentication queries

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in login requests
• Monitor authentication logs for login attempts containing SQL syntax such as quotes, OR operators, and equality operators
• Deploy intrusion detection signatures targeting the specific payload pattern =''or' in POST data to /login.php
• Review web server access logs for repeated authentication attempts with varying payloads indicative of automated exploitation

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all authentication events including failed attempts and the submitted parameters
• Configure alerts for successful logins that bypass multi-factor authentication or anomaly detection
• Monitor database query patterns for unexpected authentication query structures
• Implement user behavior analytics to detect post-exploitation activities such as unusual data access patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25320

Immediate Actions Required

• Disable or restrict access to the vulnerable /login.php endpoint until a fix is applied
• Implement network-level access controls to limit who can reach the authentication endpoints
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules enabled
• Review access logs to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have already occurred
• Rotate all user credentials and administrative passwords as a precautionary measure

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been identified in the available data. The GitHub Project Repository should be monitored for security updates. Organizations using this software should consider implementing the workarounds below or migrating to a more actively maintained e-learning platform with proper security support.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation at the application level to reject SQL metacharacters in login fields
• Use a reverse proxy with SQL injection filtering capabilities in front of the application
• Restrict access to the e-learning system to trusted networks using IP whitelisting or VPN requirements
• Consider implementing a custom authentication wrapper that uses parameterized queries
• Deploy network segmentation to limit the impact if the application is compromised

# Example WAF rule for ModSecurity to block SQL injection in login forms
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /login.php" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    chain,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt blocked in login'"
    SecRule ARGS "@rx (?i)(\%27)|(\')|(\-\-)|(\%23)|(#)|(or\s+[\'\"]?\d[\'\"]?\s*=)|(\=[\'\"]?or)" \
        "t:none,t:urlDecodeUni"