CVE-2024-0463 Overview
A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been discovered in code-projects Online Faculty Clearance System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists within the HTTP POST Request Handler component, specifically in the file /production/admin_view_info.php. An attacker can exploit this flaw by manipulating the haydi parameter to inject arbitrary SQL commands, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive database information, data modification, or complete system compromise.
Critical Impact
This SQL injection vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries against the backend database, potentially leading to complete database compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized administrative access.
Affected Products
- Fabian Online Faculty Clearance System 1.0
- code-projects Online Faculty Clearance 1.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-01-12 - CVE-2024-0463 published to NVD
- 2025-10-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-0463
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 (SQL Injection), a common but dangerous web application security flaw that occurs when user-supplied input is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The vulnerable endpoint /production/admin_view_info.php processes HTTP POST requests and fails to adequately validate or escape the haydi parameter before including it in database queries.
The attack surface is significant due to the network-accessible nature of the vulnerable component, combined with no authentication requirements to trigger the vulnerability. Successful exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be performed remotely without any user interaction.
Root Cause
The root cause stems from improper input validation in the application's database query construction. The haydi parameter value from HTTP POST requests is directly concatenated into SQL query strings without proper sanitization, parameterized queries, or prepared statements. This allows an attacker to break out of the intended query context and inject malicious SQL commands that the database will execute with the same privileges as the application.
Attack Vector
The vulnerability is exploitable via network-based attacks targeting the HTTP POST Request Handler. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP POST requests to /production/admin_view_info.php containing SQL injection payloads in the haydi parameter. The attack requires no authentication and no user interaction, making it trivially exploitable.
The exploitation mechanism involves sending specially crafted input that terminates the original SQL query and appends additional malicious SQL statements. Common attack patterns include UNION-based injection for data extraction, boolean-based blind injection for database enumeration, and time-based blind injection when error messages are suppressed. Detailed technical information is available in the GitHub SQL Injection Document.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-0463
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual or malformed HTTP POST requests to /production/admin_view_info.php containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, double dashes, UNION keywords, or SELECT statements
- Database error messages appearing in web server logs or application responses indicating query syntax errors
- Unexpected database query patterns or elevated query execution times in database audit logs
- Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized database access in application logs
Detection Strategies
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in the haydi parameter and other POST data
- Implement intrusion detection system (IDS) signatures to identify SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoint
- Enable database activity monitoring to detect anomalous queries or unauthorized data access patterns
- Configure application-level logging to capture and alert on suspicious parameter values
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor HTTP POST requests to /production/admin_view_info.php for SQL injection indicators such as special characters, SQL keywords, and comment sequences
- Enable verbose database logging to track query execution and identify potential injection attempts
- Set up alerts for database errors, connection anomalies, or unusual query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-0463
Immediate Actions Required
- Take the Online Faculty Clearance System offline or restrict access to trusted networks only until a fix is applied
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to filter malicious SQL injection payloads targeting the vulnerable endpoint
- Review database logs for evidence of prior exploitation and assess potential data exposure
- Restrict database user privileges to minimum required access to limit exploitation impact
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been released for this vulnerability. The application is a code-projects submission and may not receive formal security updates. Organizations using this software should implement code-level fixes or consider migrating to a more actively maintained alternative.
For technical details regarding the vulnerability, refer to VulDB #250568 and the VulDB CTI entry.
Workarounds
- Implement prepared statements or parameterized queries in the vulnerable PHP file to prevent SQL injection
- Apply strict input validation and sanitization to the haydi parameter, allowing only expected character patterns
- Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF with SQL injection protection rules as an interim mitigation layer
- Restrict network access to the application to trusted IP addresses or internal networks only
# Example: Restrict access to admin_view_info.php using Apache .htaccess
# Add to .htaccess in the /production/ directory
<Files "admin_view_info.php">
Order deny,allow
Deny from all
Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
</Files>
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
