CVE-2024-2941 Overview
CVE-2024-2941 is a SQL injection vulnerability in Campcodes Online Examination System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /adminpanel/admin/query/loginExe.php script, where the pass parameter is passed to the database layer without sanitization. Remote attackers can inject arbitrary SQL through this parameter without authentication or user interaction. The issue is tracked as VulDB identifier VDB-258032 and maps to [CWE-89] Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. Public exploit details have been disclosed, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic abuse against exposed installations.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can manipulate the pass parameter to read, modify, or destroy database contents, including administrator credentials used to access the examination platform.
Affected Products
- Campcodes Online Examination System 1.0
- Administrative login component /adminpanel/admin/query/loginExe.php
- Deployments exposing the admin panel to untrusted networks
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-03-27 - CVE-2024-2941 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2025-02-20 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-2941
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a classic SQL injection in the administrative authentication flow of Campcodes Online Examination System 1.0. The loginExe.php endpoint concatenates the user-supplied pass argument directly into a SQL statement used to validate administrator credentials. Because input is neither parameterized nor escaped, an attacker can break out of the string context and append arbitrary SQL clauses.
Exploitation requires only network access to the admin panel. No prior credentials are needed, no user interaction is required, and the attack complexity is low. Successful injection can yield full read and write access to the underlying database, exposing student data, examination content, and credential hashes.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special characters in SQL queries [CWE-89]. The pass parameter is consumed by the login routine and embedded in a query without prepared statements or input validation. Any single quote, comment sequence, or boolean expression supplied by the attacker is interpreted by the database server rather than treated as data.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is purely network-based. An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to /adminpanel/admin/query/loginExe.php, supplying a malicious value for the pass field. Typical payloads include authentication bypass strings using tautologies such as OR 1=1, UNION-based selects to exfiltrate data from other tables, and time-based blind injection payloads when responses are not directly reflected. Refer to the GitHub Vulnerability Report for the disclosed proof-of-concept details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-2941
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP POST requests to /adminpanel/admin/query/loginExe.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, #, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP( in the pass parameter
- Repeated failed login attempts followed by an unexpected successful administrator session
- Database error messages referencing the login query returned in HTTP responses
- New or modified administrator accounts in the examination system database without an audit trail
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall rules that inspect the pass parameter on the loginExe.php endpoint for SQL syntax tokens
- Enable database query logging and alert on queries originating from the login handler that contain UNION, conditional logic, or sleep functions
- Correlate web server access logs with database audit logs to identify injection attempts that translate into anomalous query patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward web server, application, and database logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation
- Alert on outbound data transfers from the database host that exceed normal baselines, which can indicate UNION-based exfiltration
- Monitor for first-time source IPs accessing the admin panel and apply geo-based or allowlist controls
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-2941
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to /adminpanel/ to trusted IP ranges or place it behind a VPN until a fixed release is available
- Audit the application database for unauthorized accounts, modified grades, or tampered examination records
- Rotate all administrator credentials and any secrets shared with the affected database instance
- Deploy WAF signatures that block SQL metacharacters in the pass parameter of loginExe.php
Patch Information
No vendor advisory or official patch has been published for Campcodes Online Examination System 1.0 at the time of writing. Operators should monitor the VulDB entry for VDB-258032 and the vendor's distribution channel for updates. Until a fix is released, organizations should treat the deployment as exposed and apply compensating controls.
Workarounds
- Replace dynamic SQL in loginExe.php with parameterized queries or prepared statements that bind the pass value as data
- Apply server-side input validation that rejects requests containing SQL syntax in authentication fields
- Enforce least-privilege database accounts so the web application user cannot read or modify tables outside its scope
- Disable verbose database error reporting in production responses to limit information leakage to attackers
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
