CVE-2024-5396 Overview
CVE-2024-5396 is a SQL injection vulnerability in itsourcecode Online Student Enrollment System 1.0. The flaw resides in the newfaculty.php file, where the name parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. Attackers can manipulate the argument remotely to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The vulnerability has been publicly disclosed under VulDB identifier 266310 and may be leveraged against exposed installations. The weakness is categorized as [CWE-89] Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low privileges can inject SQL statements through the name parameter of newfaculty.php, potentially exposing or modifying enrollment database contents.
Affected Products
- itsourcecode Online Student Enrollment System 1.0
- newfaculty.php component within the enrollment application
- Deployments using the vulnerable name parameter handler
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-05-27 - CVE-2024-5396 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-5396
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability affects the faculty creation workflow inside the Online Student Enrollment System. The newfaculty.php script accepts a name argument from client input and concatenates it directly into a SQL statement. Because the application does not validate, escape, or parameterize this input, attackers can break out of the string context and append their own SQL clauses. Authenticated users with low privileges can query, modify, or exfiltrate records from the backend database. The exploit has been disclosed publicly, and the EPSS model estimates a 0.614% probability of exploitation within 30 days.
Root Cause
The root cause is the lack of parameterized queries in newfaculty.php. User-supplied data flows into a dynamically constructed SQL statement without prepared statements or input filtering. This design pattern maps directly to [CWE-89] and is common in PHP applications that build queries through string concatenation with variables such as $_POST['name'] or $_GET['name'].
Attack Vector
Attackers deliver the payload remotely over HTTP by submitting a crafted name value to newfaculty.php. The attack requires low privileges but no user interaction. Successful injection can enumerate database schemas, extract credentials, alter faculty and student records, or chain into secondary attacks against connected systems. Refer to the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB #266310 for public technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-5396
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP POST or GET requests to newfaculty.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP( in the name parameter.
- Web server logs showing repeated 500 errors or unusually long response times tied to newfaculty.php requests.
- Unexpected new or modified rows in the faculty table, especially outside administrative business hours.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that match SQL injection signatures against the name parameter of newfaculty.php.
- Enable database query logging and alert on queries referencing the faculty table with tautology patterns like OR 1=1 or stacked statements.
- Correlate authenticated session identifiers with anomalous request rates to newfaculty.php.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward web server, PHP-FPM, and MySQL logs to a centralized analytics platform for long-retention search.
- Baseline normal request volume to newfaculty.php and alert on statistical deviations.
- Track outbound connections from the database server to identify data exfiltration attempts following injection.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-5396
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the Online Student Enrollment System administrative interface using network ACLs or VPN gating.
- Disable or remove the newfaculty.php endpoint until a patched version is available.
- Rotate database credentials and audit the faculty table for unauthorized modifications.
Patch Information
No vendor patch has been published by itsourcecode at the time of writing. Organizations running Online Student Enrollment System 1.0 should treat the software as unmaintained and plan migration to a supported enrollment platform. Track updates through VulDB CTI ID #266310 and the VulDB Submission #344699 records.
Workarounds
- Introduce a reverse proxy or WAF rule that rejects requests to newfaculty.php containing SQL metacharacters in the name field.
- Modify the source to use PDO or MySQLi prepared statements with bound parameters instead of string concatenation.
- Apply server-side input validation that constrains name to expected character classes such as [A-Za-z .'-]{1,64}.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
