CVE-2024-7116: Online Payroll Management System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2024-7116 Overview

CVE-2024-7116 is a SQL injection vulnerability [CWE-89] in MD-MAFUJUL-HASAN Online-Payroll-Management-System up to version 20230911. The flaw resides in the /branch_viewmore.php file, where the id parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. An authenticated remote attacker can manipulate the id argument to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of opportunistic attacks. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond, and the product does not use versioning, leaving affected releases undefined.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers with low privileges can inject SQL commands through the id parameter of /branch_viewmore.php, potentially exposing or modifying payroll data stored in the backend database.

Affected Products

• MD-MAFUJUL-HASAN Online-Payroll-Management-System up to 20230911
• Component: /branch_viewmore.php
• Parameter: id

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-07-26 - CVE-2024-7116 published to NVD
• 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-7116

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a classic SQL injection flaw [CWE-89] in the payroll management application. The /branch_viewmore.php endpoint accepts a user-controlled id argument and concatenates it directly into a SQL query executed against the backend database. Because the value is not parameterized or sanitized, an attacker can break out of the intended query context and append arbitrary SQL syntax.

Exploitation requires network access to the application and low-level privileges to reach the vulnerable endpoint. Successful injection can lead to unauthorized data disclosure, tampering of payroll records, or bypass of application logic that depends on database state. The public availability of exploit details, tracked as VulDB entry VDB-272447, lowers the barrier for opportunistic attackers.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in a SQL command. The id parameter received by /branch_viewmore.php is embedded directly into a query string without prepared statements or input validation. Any user able to reach the page can supply crafted SQL fragments that the database will execute.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based over HTTP. An authenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to /branch_viewmore.php with a malicious id parameter containing SQL syntax. The manipulated query is executed against the underlying database, returning data or performing actions defined by the injected payload. See the GitHub CVE Collection Repository and VulDB #272447 for public technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7116

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to /branch_viewmore.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION SELECT, --, ;, or SLEEP( in the id parameter.
• Web server access logs showing unusually long or encoded values passed to the id query string parameter.
• Database error messages surfaced in application responses referencing MySQL syntax errors tied to branch_viewmore queries.

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect query strings on /branch_viewmore.php for SQL injection patterns.
• Enable database query logging and alert on queries originating from the payroll application that contain tautologies such as 1=1 or stacked statements.
• Correlate authentication events with anomalous request volume to /branch_viewmore.php to identify credentialed abuse.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor outbound data volume from the database host to detect large or unexpected result sets consistent with data exfiltration.
• Track schema-enumeration behavior such as repeated access to information_schema tables from the application service account.
• Baseline normal id parameter values (numeric identifiers) and alert on deviations that include alphabetic characters or SQL keywords.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7116

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the Online-Payroll-Management-System, limiting exposure to trusted internal networks or VPN users only.
• Place the application behind a WAF with SQL injection signatures enabled for the id parameter on /branch_viewmore.php.
• Rotate database credentials used by the application and enforce least-privilege on the application's database account.

Patch Information

No vendor patch is available. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond, and the product does not use versioning. Organizations should consider retiring or replacing the application with a maintained alternative. Refer to VulDB CTI ID #272447 for tracking updates.

Workarounds

• Modify /branch_viewmore.php to use parameterized queries or prepared statements for the id parameter, replacing string concatenation with bound variables.
• Add server-side input validation that enforces a strict numeric type on id before it reaches the query layer.
• Disable or remove the /branch_viewmore.php endpoint if it is not required for business operations.

# Example nginx configuration to block obvious SQLi payloads on the vulnerable endpoint
location /branch_viewmore.php {
    if ($arg_id ~* "('|\"|;|--|union|select|sleep|benchmark)") {
        return 403;
    }
}