CVE-2024-0471: Human Resource Integrated System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2024-0471 Overview

CVE-2024-0471 is a SQL injection vulnerability in code-projects Human Resource Integrated System 1.0. The flaw resides in /admin_route/dec_service_credits.php, where the date parameter is concatenated into a SQL query without proper sanitization. An unauthenticated remote attacker can manipulate the date argument to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit details have been publicly disclosed under VulDB identifier VDB-250576, increasing the risk of opportunistic attacks. The weakness is classified under [CWE-89] Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries remotely, leading to full compromise of the application database, including credential theft, data manipulation, and disclosure of sensitive HR records.

Affected Products

• code-projects Human Resource Integrated System 1.0
• Component: /admin_route/dec_service_credits.php
• Vulnerable parameter: date

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-01-12 - CVE-2024-0471 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-0471

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a classic SQL injection in the dec_service_credits.php admin route. The application accepts a date parameter from the request and embeds it directly into a SQL query string. Because the value is not parameterized or escaped, an attacker can break out of the intended query context and append malicious SQL clauses.

Exploitation requires no authentication and no user interaction. The attacker only needs network access to the application's admin endpoint. Successful injection can return arbitrary database contents, modify records, or, depending on database privileges, support secondary attacks such as writing files or executing operating system commands through database functions.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special characters in a SQL statement [CWE-89]. The date parameter is treated as trusted input and inserted into the query without prepared statements, type validation, or input sanitization. Any single quote, semicolon, or SQL keyword passed in the request is interpreted by the database engine.

Attack Vector

The attack is initiated remotely over the network against the /admin_route/dec_service_credits.php endpoint. The attacker submits a crafted HTTP request containing a malicious date value. Because the route is reachable without authentication in the disclosed scenario, exploitation can be fully automated. Public proof-of-concept material is referenced in the GitHub SQL Injection Analysis and the VulDB #250576 entry.

No verified exploit code is reproduced here. Refer to the linked advisories for technical reproduction steps.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-0471

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to /admin_route/dec_service_credits.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, ;, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP( in the date parameter.
• Unusual database error messages or stack traces returned in HTTP responses originating from the dec_service_credits.php handler.
• Anomalous outbound queries from the application database server, including unexpected INFORMATION_SCHEMA reads or large result sets to a single client.
• Web server access logs showing repeated requests to the affected endpoint from a single IP with varying date payloads.

Detection Strategies

• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule that inspects the date parameter for SQL syntax tokens and blocks requests matching SQLi signatures.
• Enable database query logging and alert on queries containing tautologies such as OR 1=1, time-based functions like SLEEP() or BENCHMARK(), or stacked statements.
• Correlate web access logs with database audit logs to identify requests that produce abnormally long query execution times or high row counts.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Continuously monitor the application's admin routes for unauthenticated access patterns and high-frequency parameter fuzzing.
• Alert on HTTP 500 responses originating from dec_service_credits.php, which often indicate failed SQL injection attempts.
• Track database user activity for the application service account and flag deviations from the baseline query profile.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-0471

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the /admin_route/ path using IP allowlists, VPN, or reverse proxy authentication until a fix is applied.
• Deploy WAF signatures that block SQL injection payloads targeting the date parameter of dec_service_credits.php.
• Audit the application database for unauthorized modifications, new admin accounts, or unexpected data exports since January 2024.
• Rotate database credentials and any secrets that may have been exposed through the affected endpoint.

Patch Information

No official vendor patch or advisory has been published for CVE-2024-0471 at the time of the referenced NVD entry. Organizations running code-projects Human Resource Integrated System 1.0 should treat the deployment as unsupported for production use until the vendor releases a fix. Replace the vulnerable code in dec_service_credits.php with parameterized queries or prepared statements, and apply equivalent fixes to other routes that accept user input. Track updates through the VulDB #250576 CTI reference.

Workarounds

• Modify dec_service_credits.php to use prepared statements with bound parameters for the date value, removing direct string concatenation into SQL.
• Add server-side input validation that enforces a strict date format (for example, YYYY-MM-DD) and rejects any request containing non-date characters.
• Run the application database account with least privilege, removing FILE, DROP, and administrative permissions to limit post-exploitation impact.
• Place the application behind an authenticated reverse proxy if administrative routes must remain exposed.

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) to block SQLi attempts on the vulnerable endpoint
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /admin_route/dec_service_credits.php" \
    "chain,phase:2,deny,status:403,id:1002471,msg:'CVE-2024-0471 SQLi attempt'"
    SecRule ARGS:date "@detectSQLi" "t:none,t:urlDecodeUni"