CVE-2024-4798: Online Computer Store SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2024-4798 Overview

CVE-2024-4798 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Online Computer and Laptop Store 1.0, developed by oretnom23. The flaw resides in /admin/maintenance/manage_brand.php, where the id parameter is passed to a backend SQL query without proper sanitization. Authenticated attackers can manipulate the parameter remotely to alter database queries. The exploit has been publicly disclosed under VulDB identifier VDB-263918. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-89] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).

Critical Impact

Remote attackers with low-privileged access can manipulate the id parameter in manage_brand.php to inject arbitrary SQL, exposing administrative database contents.

Affected Products

• SourceCodester Online Computer and Laptop Store 1.0
• Vendor: oretnom23
• CPE: cpe:2.3:a:oretnom23:online_computer_and_laptop_store:1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-05-14 - CVE-2024-4798 published to NVD
• 2025-02-11 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-4798

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the brand management functionality of the administrative module. The manage_brand.php script accepts an id HTTP parameter and concatenates the unsanitized value directly into a SQL statement executed against the backend database. Because the application does not use parameterized queries or input validation, an attacker can append SQL syntax to alter query logic.

Exploitation is performed over the network and requires only low-level authentication. Successful injection allows attackers to read arbitrary database records, including administrator credentials, customer data, and order history. Depending on the database user's privileges, the attacker may also modify or delete records.

The exploit has been disclosed publicly through a write-up on GitHub, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic attempts against exposed instances.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special characters in user-supplied input before incorporation into a SQL query [CWE-89]. The id parameter is trusted as a numeric value but is concatenated as a string into the query without prepared statements, escaping, or type casting.

Attack Vector

An attacker sends an HTTP request to /admin/maintenance/manage_brand.php?id=<payload> with malicious SQL syntax appended to the id parameter. Authentication to the admin panel is required, but the privilege barrier is minimal. Public proof-of-concept material is available in the GitHub CVE Documentation and VulDB #263918.

No verified exploit code is reproduced here. Refer to the linked advisories for technical payload details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-4798

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to /admin/maintenance/manage_brand.php containing SQL meta-characters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, --, or OR 1=1 in the id parameter
• Web server access logs showing repeated requests to manage_brand.php with varied id values indicative of automated injection tools (e.g., sqlmap user-agents)
• Unexpected database errors or oversized response payloads originating from the admin maintenance endpoint

Detection Strategies

• Inspect web application firewall (WAF) logs for SQL injection signatures targeting the id query string parameter
• Enable verbose MySQL/MariaDB query logging temporarily to identify malformed or anomalous queries originating from the manage_brand workflow
• Correlate authentication events with subsequent administrative HTTP requests to identify low-privileged accounts probing maintenance endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

• Alert on outbound database errors returned to clients from the /admin/maintenance/ path
• Monitor for spikes in 500-series HTTP responses from manage_brand.php
• Track admin panel session activity for accounts exhibiting unusual parameter manipulation behavior

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-4798

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the /admin/ directory using IP allowlisting or VPN-only access until a code fix is applied
• Audit existing admin accounts and rotate credentials for any account that may have accessed the maintenance interface
• Deploy WAF rules to block SQL injection payloads targeting the id parameter on manage_brand.php

Patch Information

No official vendor patch is listed in the NVD or VulDB references at the time of publication. Administrators should monitor the VulDB CTI Entry #263918 for updates. Until an official fix is released, organizations running SourceCodester Online Computer and Laptop Store 1.0 should treat the application as compromised if exposed to untrusted networks.

Workarounds

• Apply a custom code fix replacing string concatenation in manage_brand.php with parameterized queries using mysqli_prepare or PDO prepared statements
• Cast the id parameter to an integer using (int)$_GET['id'] before query construction as a temporary mitigation
• Remove or disable the brand management functionality if it is not in active use
• Place the application behind a reverse proxy with strict request filtering to drop requests containing SQL syntax in query parameters

# Example PHP mitigation snippet — replace vulnerable concatenation
# Before (vulnerable):
#   $sql = "SELECT * FROM brands WHERE id = ".$_GET['id'];
# After (mitigated):
$id = filter_input(INPUT_GET, 'id', FILTER_VALIDATE_INT);
if ($id === false || $id === null) { http_response_code(400); exit; }
$stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM brands WHERE id = ?");
$stmt->bind_param("i", $id);
$stmt->execute();