CVE-2024-12488: Online Class Scheduling System SQL Injection

CVE-2024-12488 Overview

CVE-2024-12488 is a SQL injection vulnerability in code-projects Online Class and Exam Scheduling System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /pages/subject_update.php script, where the id parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. Attackers can manipulate this parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network and requires only low-privileged authentication. Public disclosure of the exploit details increases the likelihood of opportunistic attacks against exposed instances. The issue is tracked as [CWE-74] Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output.

Critical Impact
Authenticated remote attackers can inject SQL commands through the id parameter of subject_update.php, potentially exposing or modifying database contents.

Affected Products

Fabian Online Class and Exam Scheduling System 1.0
Component: /pages/subject_update.php
CPE: cpe:2.3:a:fabian:online_class_and_exam_scheduling_system:1.0

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-12 - CVE-2024-12488 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-12488

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the subject update workflow of the Online Class and Exam Scheduling System. The application accepts an id parameter through /pages/subject_update.php and concatenates it directly into a SQL query. Because the parameter is not sanitized or parameterized, attackers can break out of the intended query context. This allows execution of attacker-controlled SQL statements against the backend database.

Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized reading of records, modification of scheduling data, or enumeration of database structure. The attack requires low-level authenticated access but no user interaction. Public exploit disclosure means adversaries can reproduce the attack without significant research effort.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in the id request parameter [CWE-74]. The PHP handler for subject_update.php builds the SQL statement through string concatenation rather than prepared statements with bound parameters. Any single quote, comment sequence, or SQL keyword injected into id becomes part of the executed query.

Attack Vector

An authenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to /pages/subject_update.php with a malicious payload in the id parameter. Typical payloads use UNION SELECT statements to extract data or boolean-based conditions to enumerate the schema. The vulnerability is reachable over the network with low complexity and no user interaction.

No verified proof-of-concept code is included here. Technical write-up references are available via the GitHub CVE Document and VulDB entry #287870.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-12488

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /pages/subject_update.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, or SLEEP( in the id parameter.
Unusual database errors logged by the PHP application referencing the subject_update handler.
Sudden spikes in outbound traffic from the web server following requests to the affected endpoint.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) signatures that inspect the id parameter for SQL injection patterns.
Enable database query logging and alert on syntactically anomalous queries originating from the scheduling application.
Correlate authentication logs with requests to subject_update.php to identify low-privileged accounts issuing malformed inputs.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor PHP error logs for mysqli or PDO exceptions tied to the affected script.
Track failed and successful login attempts followed by rapid access to update endpoints.
Baseline normal parameter values for id and alert on non-numeric or oversized payloads.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-12488

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the Online Class and Exam Scheduling System to trusted internal networks until a fix is applied.
Audit application accounts and disable any low-privileged accounts that are not required.
Review web server and database logs for prior exploitation attempts against subject_update.php.

Patch Information

No official vendor patch is listed in the NVD or VulDB references at the time of publication. Administrators should monitor the Code Projects Resource Hub for updates. Where source code access is available, developers should refactor subject_update.php to use prepared statements with bound parameters and validate that id is a positive integer.

Workarounds

Place the application behind a WAF with SQL injection rules enabled for the /pages/ path.
Enforce server-side input validation to accept only numeric values for the id parameter.
Apply least-privilege permissions to the database account used by the application, limiting write and schema access.

bash

# Example nginx rule to block non-numeric id values
location /pages/subject_update.php {
    if ($arg_id !~ ^[0-9]+$) {
        return 400;
    }
}