CVE-2024-31507: Online Graduate Tracer System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2024-31507 is a SQL injection vulnerability in Sourcecodester Online Graduate Tracer System v1.0 affecting the request parameter. Attackers can manipulate database queries to access sensitive data. This article covers technical details, affected versions, impact assessment, and mitigation strategies.

CVE-2024-31507 Overview

CVE-2024-31507 is a SQL injection vulnerability affecting Sourcecodester Online Graduate Tracer System version 1.0. The flaw resides in the admin/fetch_gendercs.php script, which fails to sanitize the request parameter before incorporating it into a database query. Attackers can send crafted HTTP requests to manipulate the underlying SQL statement without authentication. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-89] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can extract sensitive database contents, modify records, and disrupt application availability by injecting arbitrary SQL through the request parameter.

Affected Products

Tamparongj03 Online Graduate Tracer System 1.0
admin/fetch_gendercs.php endpoint
Deployments exposing the admin interface to network-accessible clients

Discovery Timeline

2024-04-09 - CVE-2024-31507 published to NVD
2025-04-18 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-31507

Vulnerability Analysis

The Online Graduate Tracer System is a PHP web application used to track graduate records. The admin/fetch_gendercs.php endpoint accepts a request parameter from the client and concatenates it directly into a SQL query string. Because the application does not use prepared statements or input validation, an attacker can break out of the intended query context and inject arbitrary SQL clauses.

Successful exploitation allows attackers to read database tables, including credentials and personally identifiable information about graduates. Attackers can also modify or delete records depending on the privileges of the database user configured for the application. The endpoint operates within the administrative path but does not require valid authentication to process the vulnerable parameter.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special characters in SQL input [CWE-89]. The request parameter flows from the HTTP request into a query construction routine without parameterized binding or escaping. Any single quote, comment marker, or SQL keyword supplied by the client becomes part of the executed statement.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no privileges or user interaction. An attacker sends an HTTP request to the admin/fetch_gendercs.php endpoint with a malicious request parameter value containing SQL syntax. The server executes the injected statement against the backend database and returns or processes the manipulated results.

The vulnerability is described in prose only because no verified proof-of-concept code is available. Refer to the GitHub CVE Issue Discussion for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-31507

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to admin/fetch_gendercs.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, --, or OR 1=1 in the request parameter
Unusual database error messages or stack traces returned to clients from the application
Unexpected outbound database queries reading from information_schema or user tables

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for query strings targeting fetch_gendercs.php with suspicious request parameter values
Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag SQL injection signatures targeting PHP endpoints
Correlate database audit logs with web request logs to identify queries that deviate from expected application behavior

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging on the database server to capture all queries originating from the application account
Monitor for spikes in response size or error rates from the admin/ directory
Alert on authentication bypass patterns where unauthenticated sessions reach admin-prefixed endpoints

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-31507

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the admin/ directory using IP allowlists or VPN-only access until a fix is applied
Deploy WAF signatures that block SQL injection patterns on the request parameter
Review database logs for evidence of prior exploitation against fetch_gendercs.php

Patch Information

No official vendor patch is listed in the NVD entry or referenced advisories. Administrators should monitor the GitHub CVE Issue Discussion for community-provided fixes and consider applying source-level changes to use parameterized queries (PDO or mysqli prepared statements) in admin/fetch_gendercs.php.

Workarounds

Modify admin/fetch_gendercs.php to use prepared statements with bound parameters instead of string concatenation
Enforce server-side validation that rejects non-alphanumeric values in the request parameter
Run the application database account with the least privileges required, removing write or DDL permissions where not needed

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking SQLi on the vulnerable parameter
SecRule ARGS:request "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1003150,phase:2,deny,status:403,\
    msg:'SQLi attempt against fetch_gendercs.php (CVE-2024-31507)',\
    tag:'CWE-89'"