CVE-2024-6417: Simple Online Bidding System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2024-6417 Overview

CVE-2024-6417 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Simple Online Bidding System 1.0, developed by oretnom23. The flaw resides in the /admin/ajax.php?action=delete_user endpoint, where the id parameter is passed directly to a SQL query without proper sanitization [CWE-89]. Authenticated attackers can manipulate this parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements and interact with the backend database. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network and requires low privileges. Public disclosure of exploit details has occurred through VulDB entry #270008 and a GitHub write-up.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low-privilege access can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the application database, leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.

Affected Products

Oretnom23 Simple Online Bidding System 1.0
Component: /admin/ajax.php (action delete_user)
CPE: cpe:2.3:a:oretnom23:simple_online_bidding_system:1.0

Discovery Timeline

2024-06-30 - CVE-2024-6417 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-6417

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability affects the administrative AJAX handler in Simple Online Bidding System 1.0. When an administrator invokes the delete_user action, the application reads the id parameter from the HTTP request and incorporates it into a SQL DELETE statement without parameterization or input validation. This allows an attacker to break out of the intended SQL context and append additional clauses or subqueries.

Successful exploitation permits reading arbitrary tables, modifying records, or deleting data. Because the injection point is on an administrative endpoint, attackers need valid low-privilege credentials or a session hijack to reach it. However, the impact spans confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying database.

The underlying weakness is classified as Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command [CWE-89]. The current EPSS probability is 0.453% with a percentile of 37.004.

Root Cause

The root cause is direct concatenation of user-controlled input into a SQL query in the delete_user handler within /admin/ajax.php. The application does not use prepared statements or a parameterized query interface, and it does not validate that id conforms to an expected numeric format before passing it to the database driver.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based over HTTP. An attacker with authenticated access to the admin AJAX interface issues a crafted request such as POST /admin/ajax.php?action=delete_user with a malicious id parameter containing SQL syntax. Public proof-of-concept details are available in the GitHub CVE Documentation and VulDB #270008.

No verified exploitation code is reproduced here. Refer to the linked advisories for technical payload details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-6417

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /admin/ajax.php?action=delete_user with non-numeric or SQL-syntax characters (', --, UNION, SELECT, SLEEP) in the id parameter.
Unexpected DELETE, UNION, or time-based query patterns in database logs originating from the web application user.
Anomalous administrative session activity from unfamiliar source IP addresses targeting the delete_user action.

Detection Strategies

Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule set that inspects the id parameter of ajax.php requests for SQL metacharacters and known injection payloads.
Enable database query logging and alert on requests containing unexpected SQL keywords issued by the bidding application's service account.
Correlate authentication logs with subsequent delete_user requests to identify brute-forced or reused administrator credentials preceding injection attempts.

Monitoring Recommendations

Baseline normal id parameter values as integers and alert on any deviation using WAF or reverse-proxy inspection.
Monitor for HTTP 500 responses from /admin/ajax.php, which often accompany failed injection probes.
Track outbound database traffic volume for unusual spikes indicative of data exfiltration via UNION-based extraction.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-6417

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict access to the /admin/ directory via IP allowlisting or VPN until a fix is applied.
Rotate all administrator credentials and enforce strong, unique passwords on the bidding application.
Review database and application logs for evidence of prior exploitation targeting the delete_user action.

Patch Information

No vendor patch has been published for Simple Online Bidding System 1.0 at the time of this writing. The vendor advisory list is empty in the NVD record. Organizations relying on this application should treat it as unmaintained and plan migration to a supported alternative. Refer to VulDB CTI ID #270008 for ongoing tracking.

Workarounds

Modify the delete_user handler in /admin/ajax.php to cast the id parameter to an integer before use, for example with intval($_POST['id']).
Replace inline SQL construction with PDO prepared statements using bound parameters.
Deploy a WAF signature that blocks SQL metacharacters in the id parameter of ajax.php requests.
Disable the affected administrative endpoint if the delete_user functionality is not operationally required.

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) to block SQLi in the id parameter
SecRule ARGS:id "@rx [^0-9]" \
    "id:1006417,phase:2,deny,status:403,\
    msg:'CVE-2024-6417 SQLi attempt in Simple Online Bidding System delete_user',\
    logdata:'id=%{ARGS.id}'"