CVE-2024-5046 Overview
A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Online Examination System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists within the registeracc.php file, where improper handling of the email parameter allows attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. This flaw can be exploited remotely without authentication, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive database information, data manipulation, or complete compromise of the backend database.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to access, modify, or delete sensitive examination data, user credentials, and potentially gain control over the underlying database server.
Affected Products
- Warrendaloyan Online Examination System 1.0
- SourceCodester Online Examination System 1.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-05-17 - CVE-2024-5046 published to NVD
- 2025-02-10 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-5046
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization in the user registration functionality of the Online Examination System. The registeracc.php file processes user-supplied input through the email parameter without proper sanitization or parameterized queries. When user input is directly concatenated into SQL statements, attackers can manipulate the query structure by injecting SQL syntax through the email field.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires no authentication and can be performed remotely over the network. Successful exploitation allows attackers to extract sensitive data from the database, bypass authentication mechanisms, modify or delete records, and potentially execute administrative operations on the database server.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2024-5046 is the lack of proper input validation and the use of unsafe SQL query construction methods. The application fails to sanitize user input from the email parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. Instead of using prepared statements with parameterized queries, the application directly concatenates user-supplied data into SQL strings, creating a classic SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89).
Attack Vector
The attack is executed remotely over the network by submitting a specially crafted HTTP request to the registeracc.php endpoint. An attacker manipulates the email parameter to include SQL metacharacters and malicious SQL commands. Since the application directly incorporates this input into database queries without sanitization, the injected SQL code is executed by the database engine.
The exploitation does not require any prior authentication or user interaction, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can reach the vulnerable endpoint. The attacker can leverage this vulnerability to enumerate database contents, extract user credentials, bypass access controls, or modify critical examination data.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-5046
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual SQL error messages or database exceptions in application logs originating from registeracc.php
- Anomalous database queries containing SQL keywords (UNION, SELECT, OR, AND) in the email parameter field
- Multiple failed or suspicious registration attempts with malformed email addresses containing special characters
- Unexpected database access patterns or queries accessing tables outside normal registration functionality
Detection Strategies
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in HTTP request parameters
- Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection payloads
- Monitor application logs for SQL syntax errors and database exceptions related to user input processing
- Analyze HTTP traffic for requests to registeracc.php containing suspicious characters or SQL keywords in the email field
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for the Online Examination System application and database server
- Configure alerts for unusual database query patterns or access to sensitive tables
- Monitor for bulk data extraction or unauthorized SELECT queries against user and examination tables
- Review authentication logs for successful logins following suspicious registration activity
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-5046
Immediate Actions Required
- Take the Online Examination System offline or restrict access to trusted networks until remediation is complete
- Implement Web Application Firewall rules to filter SQL injection attempts targeting registeracc.php
- Review database logs for evidence of prior exploitation and assess potential data compromise
- Backup all critical data and prepare for incident response if exploitation is detected
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been released for this vulnerability at the time of publication. Users of SourceCodester Online Examination System 1.0 should implement the workarounds below and monitor for vendor security updates. For additional technical details, refer to the VulDB entry #264743 and the GitHub Issue Discussion.
Workarounds
- Implement parameterized queries (prepared statements) in registeracc.php to prevent SQL injection
- Add server-side input validation to sanitize the email parameter, allowing only valid email format characters
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules
- Restrict network access to the application to trusted IP ranges only
- Consider disabling the registration functionality until a proper fix can be implemented
# Example: Restrict access to registeracc.php using Apache .htaccess
# Add to .htaccess in the application directory
<Files "registeracc.php">
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
</Files>
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
