CVE-2024-5898: Payroll Management System SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2024-5898 Overview

CVE-2024-5898 is a SQL injection vulnerability in itsourcecode Payroll Management System 1.0. The flaw resides in the print_payroll.php script, where the id parameter is passed directly into a database query without proper sanitization. Remote attackers with low-level authenticated access can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The vulnerability is tracked in VulDB as identifier 268142 and has been publicly disclosed, increasing exposure for unpatched deployments. The issue is categorized under [CWE-89] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).

Critical Impact

Authenticated remote attackers can extract, modify, or delete payroll database contents via crafted requests to print_payroll.php.

Affected Products

• itsourcecode Payroll Management System 1.0
• Vendor: angeljudesuarez
• Component: print_payroll.php

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-06-12 - CVE-2024-5898 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-5898

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the print_payroll.php endpoint of the Payroll Management System. The script accepts the id parameter from HTTP requests and concatenates it into an SQL query without parameterization or input validation. Attackers can append SQL operators, UNION clauses, or stacked queries to alter the original statement.

Exploitation requires network access and low-privilege authentication to the application. No user interaction is needed. Successful attacks expose payroll records, employee personal data, and authentication credentials stored in the database. Attackers can also escalate to data modification or full database extraction using time-based or boolean-based blind techniques.

The EPSS score of 0.068% indicates a low statistical likelihood of exploitation across the broader internet, but public disclosure of the exploit details elevates risk for any internet-facing instance.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of prepared statements or input sanitization on the id parameter in print_payroll.php. The application directly interpolates user-supplied input into the SQL query string, violating secure coding practices for database access [CWE-89].

Attack Vector

An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to print_payroll.php?id=<payload> containing SQL meta-characters. The injected payload is executed by the backend database, returning sensitive data or modifying records. The attack can be automated using common SQL injection tooling. Technical disclosure details are available in the GitHub CVE Issue and VulDB entry #268142.

// No verified exploit code is published by SentinelLabs.
// Refer to the linked VulDB and GitHub references for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-5898

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to print_payroll.php containing SQL meta-characters such as ', --, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP( in the id parameter.
• Unusual database error messages or HTTP 500 responses returned from the payroll application.
• Anomalous spikes in outbound database query duration consistent with blind SQL injection probing.

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag SQL injection patterns targeting the id parameter on print_payroll.php.
• Enable database query logging and alert on syntactically malformed queries originating from the application service account.
• Correlate web server access logs with database audit logs to identify injection attempts followed by large result-set retrievals.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor authentication logs for low-privilege accounts initiating high volumes of requests against print_payroll.php.
• Track outbound data volume from the database host to detect bulk exfiltration attempts.
• Review web server logs for encoded payloads such as %27, %20OR%20, or 0x hex sequences in query strings.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-5898

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the Payroll Management System using firewall rules or VPN gating until a patched build is available.
• Audit all accounts with access to the application and revoke unused or shared credentials.
• Review database audit logs for prior injection attempts against print_payroll.php.

Patch Information

No vendor patch has been published in the NVD references for CVE-2024-5898. Operators should monitor the GitHub CVE Issue tracker and the VulDB advisory for vendor updates. Where possible, replace the deployment with a maintained payroll application.

Workarounds

• Place the application behind a WAF configured to block SQL injection payloads on the id parameter.
• Modify print_payroll.php to use prepared statements with bound parameters instead of string concatenation.
• Apply server-side input validation to enforce that the id parameter accepts only numeric values.
• Restrict the database user account used by the application to read-only access on required tables.

# Example Apache mod_rewrite rule blocking common SQLi patterns on print_payroll.php
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (union|select|sleep\(|--|%27|\bor\b\s+\d+=\d+) [NC]
RewriteRule ^print_payroll\.php$ - [F,L]