CVE-2024-1833 Overview
A SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Employee Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the login functionality located at /Account/login.php, where the txtusername and txtphone parameters are susceptible to SQL injection attacks due to improper input validation. This flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate SQL queries executed by the application, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or database manipulation.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to bypass authentication, access sensitive employee data, or execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database without requiring prior authentication.
Affected Products
- SourceCodester Employee Management System 1.0
- walterjnr1 employee_management_system 1.0
Discovery Timeline
- February 23, 2024 - CVE-2024-1833 published to NVD
- September 30, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-1833
Vulnerability Analysis
This SQL injection vulnerability affects the authentication mechanism of the Employee Management System. The login page at /Account/login.php accepts user input through the txtusername and txtphone parameters, which are directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. This classic injection flaw enables attackers to inject malicious SQL statements that alter the intended query logic.
The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without any authentication or user interaction. While the immediate impact includes partial compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system, the authentication bypass capability significantly amplifies the overall risk as it grants unauthorized access to the application's protected functionality.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2024-1833 is the failure to implement proper input validation and parameterized queries in the login processing logic. The application constructs SQL queries by directly concatenating user-supplied input from the txtusername and txtphone form fields into the query string. This violates secure coding practices and creates an injection point that attackers can leverage to manipulate database operations.
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component), indicating that special characters and SQL syntax elements in user input are not properly neutralized before being passed to the database engine.
Attack Vector
The attack can be executed remotely over the network by submitting crafted input to the login form. An attacker does not require any prior authentication or special privileges to exploit this vulnerability. The attack flow involves:
- Navigating to the /Account/login.php endpoint
- Injecting SQL payloads into either the txtusername or txtphone input fields
- The malicious SQL is executed by the database server
- The attacker can bypass authentication, extract data, or modify database contents
For detailed technical analysis and proof-of-concept information, refer to the GitHub CVE Project Resource.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-1833
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual SQL error messages in web server logs originating from /Account/login.php
- Login attempts containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes ('), double dashes (--), or UNION SELECT statements
- Successful authentication events from unexpected IP addresses or geographic locations
- Database query logs showing anomalous or malformed queries from the web application user
Detection Strategies
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns in login form submissions
- Implement anomaly detection for authentication endpoints monitoring for injection payload patterns
- Enable detailed database query logging to identify suspicious SQL statements
- Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for SQL injection attack patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor HTTP POST requests to /Account/login.php for suspicious parameter values containing SQL metacharacters
- Set up alerts for repeated failed login attempts that may indicate SQL injection probing
- Review application and database logs regularly for signs of data exfiltration or unauthorized query execution
- Implement real-time alerting for any database errors that could indicate injection attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-1833
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the Employee Management System to trusted IP ranges only
- Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules
- Consider taking the application offline until proper code remediation can be implemented
- Review database accounts and permissions, applying principle of least privilege
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been identified for this vulnerability at the time of publication. The Employee Management System is distributed through SourceCodester, and users should monitor the SourceCodester website for any security updates. Additional vulnerability information is available through VulDB #254624.
Given the absence of an official patch, organizations using this software should prioritize implementing the workarounds described below and consider migrating to an actively maintained alternative solution.
Workarounds
- Implement input validation to reject any input containing SQL metacharacters (', ", ;, --, etc.) in the login fields
- Apply prepared statements/parameterized queries to all database interactions in the login functionality
- Deploy a reverse proxy with WAF capabilities to filter malicious requests before they reach the application
- Limit database user privileges for the application to prevent destructive operations even if injection succeeds
# Example WAF rule configuration for ModSecurity
# Add to modsecurity.conf to block common SQL injection patterns
SecRule ARGS "@detectSQLi" "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'SQL Injection Detected in Login Parameters',log,chain"
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /Account/login.php"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
