CVE-2024-6013: Online Book Store SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2024-6013 Overview

CVE-2024-6013 is a SQL injection vulnerability in itsourcecode Online Book Store 1.0. The flaw exists in the admin_delete.php script, where the bookisbn parameter is passed into a database query without proper sanitization. Attackers can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely and requires low-privileged authentication. Public disclosure of the exploit has occurred, and the issue is tracked under VulDB identifier VDB-268721. The weakness is classified under [CWE-89] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).

Critical Impact

Authenticated remote attackers can inject arbitrary SQL into the admin_delete.php endpoint via the bookisbn parameter, exposing database confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Affected Products

• itsourcecode Online Book Store Project in PHP and MySQL with Source Code 1.0
• admin_delete.php administrative component
• Deployments using the bookisbn request parameter

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-06-15 - CVE-2024-6013 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-6013

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the administrative deletion workflow of the Online Book Store application. The admin_delete.php script accepts a bookisbn parameter from an HTTP request and concatenates the value directly into a SQL statement. Because the application does not use parameterized queries or input validation, attacker-controlled SQL syntax becomes part of the executed query.

A remote attacker with low-privileged access to the admin interface can append SQL operators, UNION clauses, or stacked statements to retrieve, modify, or delete arbitrary database records. The impact is limited to the application's database scope, but covers confidentiality, integrity, and availability of stored data including credentials and order information.

The exploit has been publicly disclosed through the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB #268721, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic abuse against unpatched deployments.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of user input passed through the bookisbn HTTP parameter. The PHP source code constructs SQL queries via string concatenation rather than prepared statements with bound parameters. No server-side input validation, allowlisting, or escaping is applied before the value reaches the MySQL driver.

Attack Vector

An attacker reaches the vulnerable endpoint over the network and submits a crafted request to admin_delete.php with a malicious bookisbn value. Typical payloads use UNION SELECT statements to exfiltrate table contents or boolean-based blind techniques to enumerate the schema. Successful exploitation requires valid administrative session credentials, which limits unauthenticated exposure but does not prevent abuse by compromised or insider accounts.

No verified proof-of-concept code is published in the official advisories; refer to the VulDB CTI ID #268721 entry for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-6013

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to admin_delete.php containing SQL meta-characters in the bookisbn parameter, such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, --, or /* sequences.
• Web server access logs showing repeated requests to the admin deletion endpoint from a single source within a short interval.
• Unexpected MySQL error messages or 500-status responses originating from admin_delete.php.
• Unexplained deletions or modifications of records in the books or related tables.

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect the bookisbn parameter for SQL injection signatures and block requests matching known payload patterns.
• Enable MySQL general query logging on affected hosts and alert on queries containing concatenated bookisbn values with suspicious syntax.
• Correlate authentication events with administrative deletion requests to identify anomalous session activity.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Forward web server, PHP, and MySQL logs to a centralized analytics platform for cross-source correlation.
• Baseline normal administrative traffic volume to admin_delete.php and alert on statistical deviations.
• Monitor outbound database traffic for unusual result set sizes that may indicate data exfiltration via UNION-based injection.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-6013

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the administrative interface to trusted management networks or VPN ranges only.
• Rotate all administrative credentials and audit recent logins to admin_delete.php for unauthorized activity.
• Apply WAF signatures that block SQL injection patterns targeting the bookisbn parameter until a code fix is deployed.
• Review database audit logs for evidence of prior exploitation, including unexpected schema queries or record deletions.

Patch Information

No official vendor patch is referenced in the NVD entry or linked advisories. Operators should track the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB Submission #357075 for updates. Until an upstream fix is published, the code in admin_delete.php must be modified locally to use parameterized queries via PHP Data Objects (PDO) or mysqli prepared statements, with strict server-side validation of the bookisbn value.

Workarounds

• Replace string-concatenated SQL in admin_delete.php with prepared statements using bound parameters.
• Validate the bookisbn input against a strict numeric or ISBN-format allowlist before any database operation.
• Apply the principle of least privilege to the MySQL account used by the application, removing DROP, ALTER, and cross-database privileges.
• Disable or remove the affected administrative endpoint if it is not required for production operations.

# Configuration example: restrict admin path at the web server tier
# Apache .htaccess example limiting admin_delete.php to a trusted IP
<Files "admin_delete.php">
    Require ip 10.0.0.0/24
</Files>