CVE-2024-4093: Simple Subscription Website SQLi Flaw

CVE-2024-4093 Overview

CVE-2024-4093 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Simple Subscription Website 1.0, developed by oretnom23. The flaw resides in the view_application.php file, where the id parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. Attackers can manipulate this argument to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable and has been publicly disclosed under identifier VDB-261822. This weakness is categorized under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low-level privileges can extract, modify, or destroy database contents by injecting SQL through the id parameter of view_application.php.

Affected Products

SourceCodester Simple Subscription Website 1.0
oretnom23 simple_subscription_website 1.0
CPE: cpe:2.3:a:oretnom23:simple_subscription_website:1.0

Discovery Timeline

2024-04-24 - CVE-2024-4093 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-4093

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability affects the view_application.php script within the Simple Subscription Website application. This script accepts an id parameter through an HTTP request and incorporates the value directly into a SQL query. Because the application fails to sanitize or parameterize the input, attackers can append or modify SQL clauses executed against the backend database.

Successful exploitation grants attackers the ability to read arbitrary tables, alter records, or drop data. The attack requires network access and low-privilege authentication, but no user interaction. The disclosure report is documented in the public GitHub SQL Injection Report and tracked as VulDB #261822.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in an SQL command [CWE-89]. The id GET parameter flows into a SQL statement without prepared statements or input validation. Any character sequence supplied by the attacker becomes part of the executed query.

Attack Vector

An authenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to view_application.php with a malicious payload in the id parameter. Because the exploit requires only a standard low-privilege session, any registered subscriber account is sufficient. Public proof-of-concept material is available, lowering the skill barrier for adversaries.

The vulnerability manifests in the query construction inside view_application.php. Rather than binding parameters, the application concatenates the raw id value into the SQL string. See the referenced GitHub disclosure PDF for the exact request format and payload examples.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-4093

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to view_application.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, SLEEP(, or comment sequences (--, /*) in the id parameter.
Unusually long id parameter values or non-numeric input where numeric IDs are expected.
Web server or database error messages referencing SQL syntax originating from view_application.php.
Spikes in database query volume or latency correlated with requests to the affected endpoint.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect the id parameter for SQL injection signatures on the view_application.php path.
Enable database query logging and alert on queries containing unexpected UNION, INFORMATION_SCHEMA, or boolean tautologies (OR 1=1).
Correlate authentication logs with anomalous request patterns to identify low-privilege accounts probing the endpoint.

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest web server access logs into a centralized SIEM and create detections for SQLi payload patterns targeting view_application.php.
Monitor for outbound data transfers from the database host that follow suspicious query activity.
Track failed and successful authentications preceding requests to the vulnerable endpoint to identify credential-driven exploitation.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-4093

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the Simple Subscription Website application until a fix is applied.
Audit database accounts used by the application and enforce least privilege on the tables accessed by view_application.php.
Review web and database logs for prior exploitation attempts targeting the id parameter.

Patch Information

No vendor advisory or official patch has been published for CVE-2024-4093 at the time of this writing. Organizations running SourceCodester Simple Subscription Website 1.0 should treat the software as unmaintained and evaluate migration to a supported alternative. Track updates via VulDB #261822.

Workarounds

Modify view_application.php to use parameterized queries or prepared statements instead of string concatenation for the id value.
Cast the id parameter to an integer server-side before it reaches the SQL query.
Deploy a WAF with SQL injection signatures in front of the application to block malicious payloads targeting view_application.php.
Remove or firewall the vulnerable endpoint if the functionality is not required.

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) to block SQLi patterns on the affected endpoint
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains view_application.php" \
    "chain,phase:2,deny,status:403,id:1004093,msg:'Potential SQLi on view_application.php'"
    SecRule ARGS:id "@detectSQLi" "t:none"