CVE-2024-3224: PHP Task Management System SQL Injection

CVE-2024-3224 Overview

CVE-2024-3224 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester PHP Task Management System 1.0. The flaw resides in task-details.php, where the task_id parameter is passed directly into a database query without proper sanitization. Attackers with low-privilege network access can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of opportunistic attacks against exposed installations. The vulnerability is tracked as VulDB entry VDB-259069 and maps to [CWE-89].

Critical Impact
Remote authenticated attackers can extract, modify, or delete database contents and potentially escalate access by manipulating the task_id parameter in task-details.php.

Affected Products

Mayurik PHP Task Management System 1.0
SourceCodester PHP Task Management System 1.0
CPE: cpe:2.3:a:mayurik:php_task_management_system:1.0

Discovery Timeline

2024-04-03 - CVE-2024-3224 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-3224

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the task-details.php script of the PHP Task Management System 1.0. The application accepts a task_id value from the request and concatenates it into an SQL query without input validation or parameterized statements. An authenticated attacker can supply crafted SQL payloads in task_id to alter query logic. Successful exploitation exposes the underlying database to unauthorized read and write operations. The public disclosure of exploit details raises the likelihood of active abuse. EPSS data currently places this issue in the 50th percentile of exploitation likelihood.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. The task_id parameter flows from an HTTP request into a database query as concatenated text. No prepared statements, parameter binding, or input filtering are applied before query execution. This allows adversary-controlled input to change the structure of the SQL statement.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network reachability to the application and a low-privileged authenticated session. The attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to task-details.php with a malicious task_id value. Payloads can use UNION-based, boolean-based, or time-based techniques to enumerate tables, extract records, or manipulate data. No user interaction is required beyond submitting the request.

No verified proof-of-concept code is available for reproduction in this article. Technical write-ups are available in the GitHub Vulnerability Report and the VulDB CVE Details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-3224

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to task-details.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, --, ;, or SLEEP( in the task_id parameter.
Anomalously long or URL-encoded task_id values in web server access logs.
Database error messages returned to clients or logged by the PHP application after requests to task-details.php.
Sudden spikes in database query latency or unexpected read volume from the web application service account.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall rules that inspect the task_id parameter for SQL injection signatures.
Enable database query logging and alert on queries against task-details.php that contain unbalanced quotes, comment sequences, or boolean tautologies.
Correlate authenticated session activity with unusual query patterns per user account.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor outbound data volume from the database host to identify potential exfiltration.
Track authentication and access logs for reused or shared credentials attacking task-details.php.
Forward web server, PHP error, and MySQL logs into a centralized analytics platform to enable cross-source correlation.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-3224

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict access to the PHP Task Management System to trusted networks or place it behind a VPN until a fix is available.
Deploy a web application firewall with SQL injection signatures in front of the application.
Rotate database credentials used by the application and reduce database user privileges to the minimum required.
Audit web and database logs for prior exploitation attempts against task-details.php.

Patch Information

No vendor security advisory or official patch has been published for CVE-2024-3224 at the time of NVD entry. Organizations should track the vendor project page and the VulDB CVE Details for updates. If no vendor fix is forthcoming, apply source-level remediation by replacing string concatenation in task-details.php with parameterized queries using PDO prepared statements or mysqli bound parameters.

Workarounds

Modify task-details.php to cast task_id to an integer before use, for example $task_id = (int) $_GET['task_id'];.
Refactor database access to use prepared statements with bound parameters for all user-supplied input.
Configure the database account used by the application with read-only privileges where feasible and deny DROP, ALTER, and FILE permissions.
Consider decommissioning the application if it is not business-critical, given the lack of a vendor patch.

bash

# Example prepared-statement remediation (PHP PDO)
$stmt = $pdo->prepare('SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE task_id = :task_id');
$stmt->bindValue(':task_id', (int) $_GET['task_id'], PDO::PARAM_INT);
$stmt->execute();