CVE-2024-3014: Simple Subscription Website SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2024-3014 Overview

CVE-2024-3014 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Simple Subscription Website 1.0, developed by oretnom23. The flaw resides in the Actions.php file, where the title argument is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. Remote attackers with low-level privileges can manipulate the title parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit has been publicly disclosed and tracked as VDB-258300. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command].

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows attackers to read, modify, or delete database contents, leading to full compromise of application data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Affected Products

oretnom23 Simple Subscription Website 1.0
Actions.php component handling the title parameter
Deployments using the Simple Subscription Website with Admin System codebase

Discovery Timeline

2024-03-28 - CVE-2024-3014 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-3014

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the Actions.php script of the Simple Subscription Website 1.0 application. The application accepts a title parameter from HTTP requests and concatenates it into an SQL query without input validation or parameterized statements. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can submit crafted input that alters the query logic. This allows extraction of arbitrary database records, modification of stored subscription data, or destruction of tables. The public disclosure of exploitation details lowers the barrier for opportunistic attackers targeting exposed instances.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. The Actions.php handler builds SQL statements through direct string concatenation with user-controlled input from the title field. No prepared statements, parameter binding, or escaping routines are applied before the query reaches the database backend.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed remotely over the network against the web application. An attacker submits a crafted HTTP request containing SQL metacharacters in the title parameter to Actions.php. Low-privilege authentication is required, but no user interaction is needed. Because the exploit is publicly documented, weaponization requires minimal effort.

See the GitHub SQL Injection Analysis for technical proof-of-concept details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-3014

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP POST or GET requests to Actions.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, or comment sequences (--, #) in the title parameter
Database error messages returned in HTTP responses referencing MySQL syntax errors
Unexpected database queries in MySQL general or slow query logs originating from the web application user
Anomalous outbound data volumes from the database server following requests to Actions.php

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag SQL injection payload patterns targeting the title parameter
Correlate HTTP access logs with database query logs to identify parameter tampering against Actions.php
Monitor for repeated 500-level HTTP responses from Actions.php, which often indicate injection probing

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging on the web server and forward logs to a centralized SIEM for query analysis
Alert on authentication events from low-privilege accounts followed by suspicious requests to admin action endpoints
Track database user activity for unauthorized SELECT, UPDATE, or DROP operations outside normal application patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-3014

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the Simple Subscription Website application until a vendor patch is available
Disable or remove the Actions.php endpoint if it is not required for production operation
Rotate database credentials and review database user permissions to enforce least privilege
Audit application logs for prior exploitation attempts targeting the title parameter

Patch Information

No vendor advisory or official patch has been published by oretnom23 for CVE-2024-3014 at the time of NVD publication. Organizations running Simple Subscription Website 1.0 should treat the software as vulnerable and consider migrating to an alternative subscription management platform. Refer to VulDB entry #258300 for tracking updates.

Workarounds

Place the application behind a WAF with SQL injection signatures enabled and tuned for the title parameter
Modify Actions.php locally to use parameterized queries or prepared statements with bound parameters
Apply input allow-listing to reject requests containing SQL metacharacters in the title field
Restrict the database account used by the application to read-only operations where feasible

bash

# Example ModSecurity rule to block SQLi payloads targeting the title parameter
SecRule ARGS:title "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1002024,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    msg:'CVE-2024-3014 SQL Injection attempt against Actions.php',\
    logdata:'Matched Data: %{MATCHED_VAR}'"