CVE-2024-0486: Fighting Cock System SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2024-0486 Overview

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in Code-Projects Fighting Cock Information System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /admin/action/add_con.php file, where the chicken parameter is improperly handled, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. This flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database without authentication, potentially leading to complete database compromise.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially extracting sensitive data, modifying database contents, or achieving complete system compromise through database server exploitation.

Affected Products

• Code-Projects Fighting Cock Information System 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-01-13 - CVE-2024-0486 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-0486

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability occurs in the administrative interface of the Fighting Cock Information System, specifically within the add_con.php script. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL statements through the chicken parameter. Since no authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability, attackers can remotely target the application and gain unauthorized access to the backend database. The exploitation can lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, privilege escalation within the database, and potentially command execution on the database server depending on the database configuration.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data in the chicken parameter within /admin/action/add_con.php. The application fails to properly escape or parameterize SQL queries, directly concatenating user input into database queries. This lack of prepared statements or input sanitization allows attackers to break out of the intended query structure and inject arbitrary SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack can be launched remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests to the vulnerable endpoint, injecting SQL syntax through the chicken parameter. The injected SQL commands are then executed by the database server with the privileges of the application's database user. Common attack techniques include UNION-based injection to extract data from other tables, blind SQL injection to enumerate database contents, and stacked queries to execute additional commands if supported by the database driver.

The vulnerability is documented with a proof-of-concept available through GitHub Project Documentation. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of active exploitation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-0486

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL syntax or error messages in web server access logs targeting /admin/action/add_con.php
• Database query logs showing unexpected UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, or other SQL injection patterns
• Anomalous database connections or queries executed outside normal application behavior
• Web application firewall alerts for SQL injection attempts against the chicken parameter

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests
• Monitor web server access logs for requests to /admin/action/add_con.php with suspicious parameter values
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns or unauthorized data access
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection payloads

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on the web application and database servers
• Set up alerts for failed SQL queries or database errors that may indicate injection attempts
• Monitor for bulk data exfiltration patterns from the database
• Regularly review access logs for the administrative interface paths

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-0486

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the /admin/action/add_con.php endpoint using network-level controls or authentication
• Deploy a web application firewall with SQL injection protection rules
• Consider taking the application offline if it processes sensitive data until a fix is available
• Implement network segmentation to limit database server exposure

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available. The vulnerability was disclosed through VulDB #250591. Organizations using this software should contact Code-Projects for remediation guidance or consider implementing compensating controls.

Workarounds

• Apply input validation and parameterized queries to the affected PHP file if source code modification is possible
• Use a reverse proxy or WAF to filter malicious SQL injection payloads before they reach the application
• Restrict network access to the administrative interface to trusted IP addresses only
• Apply the principle of least privilege to the database user account used by the application

# Example: Restrict access to admin directory via Apache .htaccess
# Add to /admin/.htaccess
<Files "add_con.php">
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
</Files>