CVE-2024-5066: PHPGurukul Course Registration SQL Injection

CVE-2024-5066 Overview

CVE-2024-5066 is a SQL injection vulnerability in PHPGurukul Online Course Registration System 3.1. The flaw resides in the /pincode-verification.php script, where the pincode parameter is passed to a backend database query without proper sanitization [CWE-89]. Remote attackers can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit has been publicly disclosed and is tracked as VulDB identifier VDB-264925. Authentication is required at a low privilege level, but no user interaction is needed to trigger the flaw.

Critical Impact
Attackers with basic access can extract, modify, or delete data from the underlying database through crafted pincode values submitted to /pincode-verification.php.

Affected Products

PHPGurukul Online Course Registration System 3.1
Deployments exposing /pincode-verification.php to untrusted networks
Any downstream application reusing the vulnerable query logic

Discovery Timeline

2024-05-17 - CVE-2024-5066 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-5066

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a classic SQL injection flaw located in the pincode verification workflow of the Online Course Registration System. When a user submits a value to /pincode-verification.php, the pincode parameter is concatenated directly into a SQL query executed against the backend database. Because the input is not parameterized or filtered, an attacker can supply SQL metacharacters and clauses to alter the intended query.

Successful exploitation allows attackers to read arbitrary tables, including user credentials and registration data, or write manipulated records. The EPSS score is 0.575% with a percentile of 44.341, reflecting moderate exploitation likelihood. A public proof of concept is documented in the GitHub PoC repository.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in a SQL command [CWE-89]. The pincode parameter is embedded in a dynamic SQL statement without prepared statements, parameter binding, or input validation. Any attacker-supplied SQL syntax becomes part of the executed query.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network based. An authenticated user with low privileges sends a crafted HTTP request to /pincode-verification.php containing a malicious pincode value. The manipulated string breaks out of the intended query context and injects attacker-controlled SQL. No social engineering or user interaction is required.

// Vulnerability described in prose - no verified exploit code reproduced here.
// Refer to the public PoC for parameter payloads and query structure.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-5066

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP POST or GET requests to /pincode-verification.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, --, or SLEEP() in the pincode parameter
Web server logs showing anomalous response sizes or 500-level errors for pincode-verification.php
Database error strings returned in HTTP responses referencing MySQL syntax
Unusual outbound database query patterns originating from the application service account

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall signatures targeting SQL injection payloads against the pincode parameter
Correlate web access logs with database query logs to identify malformed statements originating from pincode-verification.php
Alert on repeated failed pincode verifications from a single source IP within short time windows

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging on the web server and forward logs to a centralized SIEM for query analysis
Monitor authenticated user sessions for abnormal request rates against pincode-related endpoints
Track database user activity for SELECT statements referencing sensitive tables outside expected workflows

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-5066

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict access to /pincode-verification.php to trusted networks until a fix is deployed
Deploy WAF rules that block SQL metacharacters in the pincode parameter
Audit application logs for prior exploitation attempts referencing the vulnerable endpoint
Rotate database credentials if evidence of compromise is found

Patch Information

No vendor advisory or official patch is listed in the NVD entry for CVE-2024-5066. Administrators should monitor the PHPGurukul product page for security updates and consult the VulDB entry for tracking status.

Workarounds

Replace the vulnerable query in pincode-verification.php with a prepared statement using PDO or MySQLi parameter binding
Enforce server-side input validation that restricts the pincode parameter to numeric characters of expected length
Apply the principle of least privilege to the database account used by the application, removing DDL and multi-statement privileges

bash

# Example prepared statement pattern for pincode verification
# $stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT id FROM pincodes WHERE pincode = ?");
# $stmt->bind_param("s", $pincode);
# $stmt->execute();