CVE-2024-7751 Overview
CVE-2024-7751 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Clinics Patient Management System 1.0, developed by oretnom23. The flaw resides in the /update_medicine.php file, where the hidden_id parameter is passed directly into a database query without proper sanitization. Attackers can exploit this issue remotely over the network with low-privileged authentication. A public proof-of-concept exploit has been disclosed, increasing the risk of opportunistic exploitation against exposed installations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.
Critical Impact
Authenticated remote attackers can manipulate the hidden_id parameter to inject arbitrary SQL, potentially exposing or modifying patient records stored in the backend database.
Affected Products
- SourceCodester Clinic's Patient Management System 1.0
- Vendor: oretnom23
- Component: /update_medicine.php
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-08-13 - CVE-2024-7751 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-7751
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the medicine update workflow of the Clinic's Patient Management System. The /update_medicine.php endpoint accepts a hidden_id request parameter used to identify the medicine record targeted for update. The application concatenates this value directly into a SQL statement without parameterized queries or input validation.
Because the parameter is user-controllable and reaches the database layer unsanitized, an attacker can inject additional SQL clauses. Successful exploitation can enable data extraction through UNION-based queries, blind boolean or time-based inference, and potentially unauthorized modification of records in the medicine and patient tables.
The attack requires network access to the application and low-privileged authentication. No user interaction is required, and the exploit has been publicly documented in a GitHub proof-of-concept repository, lowering the barrier to exploitation.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in a SQL command [CWE-89]. The update_medicine.php script fails to use prepared statements or parameter binding when handling the hidden_id argument. String concatenation into SQL queries allows metacharacters such as single quotes, semicolons, and SQL keywords to alter query structure.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to /update_medicine.php with a malicious hidden_id payload. The injected SQL executes with the privileges of the database user configured in the application. Because clinic management systems typically store sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI), successful injection can compromise patient records, medication data, and administrative account details.
Refer to the published VulDB entry #274370 and the proof-of-concept documentation for the exact request structure and payload format.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7751
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP POST or GET requests to /update_medicine.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP( within the hidden_id parameter.
- Web server access logs showing unusually long hidden_id values or encoded SQL keywords.
- Database error messages referencing SQL syntax errors originating from the update_medicine.php handler.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect the hidden_id parameter for SQL injection signatures.
- Enable database query logging and alert on anomalous UPDATE, SELECT, or UNION statements originating from the application account.
- Correlate authentication events with subsequent access to /update_medicine.php to identify low-privileged accounts probing the endpoint.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor for repeated 500-series HTTP responses from /update_medicine.php, which often indicate blind SQL injection probing.
- Track outbound database connections and query volume for spikes that suggest data exfiltration.
- Review audit logs for unexpected modifications to medicine, patient, or user tables outside of normal business workflows.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7751
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the Clinic's Patient Management System to trusted internal networks or VPN users until a fix is applied.
- Disable or remove the /update_medicine.php endpoint if the medicine update feature is not in active use.
- Rotate database credentials and audit application accounts for signs of unauthorized access.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no official vendor patch has been listed for CVE-2024-7751. Administrators should monitor the SourceCodester project page and the VulDB advisory for updates. Because the application is distributed as PHP source code, operators can apply source-level fixes by replacing string-concatenated queries with PDO or MySQLi prepared statements using bound parameters.
Workarounds
- Modify update_medicine.php to use parameterized queries with bound parameters for the hidden_id value.
- Add server-side input validation to ensure hidden_id contains only expected numeric characters before it reaches the database layer.
- Deploy a WAF with SQL injection signatures in front of the application to filter malicious requests targeting the hidden_id parameter.
- Apply least-privilege principles to the database account used by the application, removing rights to modify schema or read unrelated tables.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
