CVE-2024-3042: Simple Subscription Website SQLi Flaw

CVE-2024-3042 Overview

A critical SQL Injection vulnerability has been discovered in SourceCodester Simple Subscription Website version 1.0. This vulnerability affects the manage_user.php file, where improper handling of the id parameter allows attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive database information, data manipulation, and complete database compromise.

Critical Impact

This SQL Injection vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the application's database, potentially exposing sensitive user information, subscription data, and administrative credentials without requiring any authentication.

Affected Products

• SourceCodester Simple Subscription Website 1.0
• Oretnom23 Simple Subscription Website

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-03-28 - CVE-2024-3042 published to NVD
• 2025-02-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-3042

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability exists in the manage_user.php file of the Simple Subscription Website application. The root issue is that user-supplied input via the id parameter is not properly sanitized or parameterized before being incorporated into SQL queries. This allows attackers to manipulate the query structure and execute arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database.

The vulnerability is particularly severe because it can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. An attacker can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive information from the database, modify or delete data, and potentially escalate privileges within the application.

Root Cause

The underlying cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and the use of unsanitized user input in SQL query construction. The manage_user.php file directly incorporates the id parameter into database queries without proper escaping, parameterization, or prepared statements. This is a classic example of CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command), where untrusted data is concatenated directly into SQL statements.

Attack Vector

The attack is initiated remotely over the network by manipulating the id parameter in requests to manage_user.php. An attacker can craft malicious payloads containing SQL syntax that alters the intended query logic. Common exploitation techniques include:

• Union-based injection to extract data from other tables
• Boolean-based blind injection to infer database contents
• Time-based blind injection using database-specific delay functions
• Error-based injection to extract information via error messages

The exploitation proof-of-concept has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of widespread attacks against unpatched installations. For technical details, refer to the GitHub PoC Repository and VulDB Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-3042

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed requests to manage_user.php containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, double dashes, or UNION keywords
• Database error messages appearing in application logs or responses
• Unexpected database queries in SQL server logs, particularly those containing time-delay functions or union statements
• Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized access to user tables

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in the id parameter
• Enable detailed logging on web servers to capture all requests to manage_user.php
• Configure database query logging to identify anomalous or unauthorized queries
• Implement intrusion detection signatures for common SQL injection payloads

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor application logs for error messages related to SQL syntax or database operations
• Set up alerts for multiple failed or unusual requests targeting manage_user.php
• Review database audit logs for unauthorized SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE operations
• Implement real-time monitoring of network traffic for SQL injection attack patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-3042

Immediate Actions Required

• Remove or restrict access to the Simple Subscription Website application until a patch is available
• Implement WAF rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting the id parameter
• Apply input validation at the network perimeter to filter malicious payloads
• Review database permissions to minimize the impact of potential exploitation

Patch Information

As of the last update, no official vendor patch has been released for this vulnerability. The application is developed by SourceCodester/Oretnom23, and users should monitor the vendor's official channels for security updates. Given the critical nature of this vulnerability and the public availability of exploit information, organizations should consider taking the application offline or implementing strong compensating controls until a fix is available.

For additional vulnerability details, consult the VulDB Advisory.

Workarounds

• Implement parameterized queries or prepared statements in the manage_user.php file to prevent SQL injection
• Add server-side input validation to ensure the id parameter contains only numeric values
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules
• Restrict network access to the application to trusted IP addresses only
• Consider migrating to a more actively maintained subscription management solution