CVE-2024-2478: Bradwenqiang HR SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2024-2478 Overview

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in BradWenqiang HR 2.0, specifically affecting the selectAll function within the /bishe/register file of the Background Management component. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious SQL statements through manipulation of the userName argument, potentially leading to unauthorized database access, data exfiltration, and complete system compromise.

Critical Impact

This SQL injection vulnerability enables unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database, potentially compromising all stored HR data including employee records, credentials, and sensitive organizational information.

Affected Products

• BradWenqiang HR 2.0
• Background Management Component (/bishe/register)

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-03-15 - CVE-2024-2478 published to NVD
• 2025-01-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-2478

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the BradWenqiang HR 2.0 human resources management application. The flaw resides in the selectAll function located in the /bishe/register file, which is part of the Background Management component. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the userName parameter to inject malicious SQL statements that are executed directly against the backend database.

The exploit has been publicly disclosed, and the vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way. This lack of vendor response leaves affected installations without an official patch, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations running this HR software.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and sanitization of the userName parameter in the selectAll function. User-supplied input is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper parameterization or escaping, allowing attackers to break out of the intended query structure and inject arbitrary SQL commands. This classic SQL injection pattern indicates the application does not implement prepared statements or parameterized queries.

Attack Vector

The attack can be launched remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests to the /bishe/register endpoint, embedding SQL injection payloads within the userName parameter. The vulnerable selectAll function processes this input without sanitization, executing the injected SQL against the database.

The attack mechanism involves sending specially crafted input through the userName parameter that breaks out of the expected SQL query context. For example, an attacker might inject SQL statements that enumerate database tables, extract sensitive data, modify or delete records, or potentially gain further system access depending on database permissions. Technical details and exploitation information are available in the GitHub CVE Documentation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-2478

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed requests to the /bishe/register endpoint containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or SQL keywords
• Database error messages in application logs indicating malformed SQL queries
• Unexpected database queries or data access patterns, particularly involving the userName parameter
• Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized database enumeration activities

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns targeting the /bishe/register endpoint
• Monitor HTTP access logs for requests containing SQL injection attack signatures in the userName parameter
• Deploy database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns or unauthorized data access
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on SQL injection attack indicators

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on the /bishe/register endpoint to capture all parameter values for forensic analysis
• Set up real-time alerting for database query failures that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Monitor for unusual authentication patterns or privilege escalation following potential SQL injection attacks
• Implement database audit logging to track all queries executed against sensitive HR data tables

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-2478

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the BradWenqiang HR application, limiting exposure to trusted networks only
• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules in front of the application
• Consider taking the application offline if it contains sensitive data and cannot be adequately protected
• Review database logs for evidence of prior exploitation and assess potential data compromise

Patch Information

No official patch is currently available from the vendor. According to the CVE disclosure, the vendor was contacted early about this vulnerability but did not respond. Organizations using BradWenqiang HR 2.0 should consider this software unsupported from a security perspective and evaluate alternative HR management solutions.

Additional technical information can be found at VulDB #256886 and the VulDB CTI ID #256886.

Workarounds

• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF configured to sanitize or block requests containing SQL injection patterns in the userName parameter
• Implement network segmentation to isolate the HR application from untrusted networks and limit database connectivity
• Apply input validation at the network perimeter level using mod_security or similar tools with SQL injection rulesets
• Consider migrating to a supported HR management solution that receives regular security updates

# Example WAF rule for ModSecurity to block SQL injection attempts
SecRule ARGS:userName "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:100001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    log,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in userName parameter',\
    tag:'CVE-2024-2478'"