CVE-2024-8168 Overview
A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in code-projects Online Bus Reservation Site version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the login.php file and can be exploited through manipulation of the Username parameter. This flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to inject malicious SQL queries, potentially compromising the database backend and the entire application's security posture.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability without authentication to potentially bypass login mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or escalate privileges within the application.
Affected Products
- Fabian Online Bus Reservation Site 1.0
- login.php authentication component
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-08-26 - CVE-2024-8168 published to NVD
- 2025-10-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-8168
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability represents a classic SQL injection flaw (CWE-89) in the authentication mechanism of the Online Bus Reservation Site. The login.php file fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input in the Username parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. When user input is directly concatenated into SQL statements without proper validation or parameterization, attackers can manipulate the query logic to bypass authentication, extract data, or perform unauthorized database operations.
The attack can be launched remotely over the network without requiring any prior authentication or user interaction. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of widespread exploitation against vulnerable deployments.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2024-8168 is improper input validation and the absence of parameterized queries in the login functionality. The application directly incorporates user-supplied data from the Username field into SQL statements, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL syntax that gets executed by the database engine.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote exploitation. An attacker can craft malicious input containing SQL metacharacters and commands, submit it through the Username field on the login page, and manipulate the backend database query. Common exploitation techniques include:
- Authentication bypass: Using payloads like ' OR '1'='1 to circumvent login validation
- Data exfiltration: Employing UNION-based injection to retrieve data from other tables
- Blind SQL injection: Inferring database contents through boolean-based or time-based techniques
The vulnerability requires no authentication or special privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can reach the application's login page.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-8168
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual login attempts containing SQL metacharacters (single quotes, double dashes, semicolons)
- Database error messages appearing in application logs or responses
- Unexpected database query patterns in SQL server logs
- Authentication bypass events where users gain access without valid credentials
Detection Strategies
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in the Username parameter
- Monitor HTTP request logs for common SQL injection payloads targeting login.php
- Configure database query logging to identify anomalous or malformed SQL statements
- Deploy intrusion detection systems with signatures for SQL injection attack patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on web servers to capture all requests to login.php
- Set up alerts for database errors that may indicate injection attempts
- Monitor for unusual data access patterns or bulk data retrieval from the database
- Review authentication logs for anomalous login success patterns
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-8168
Immediate Actions Required
- Remove or restrict access to the Online Bus Reservation Site until properly patched
- Implement input validation and parameterized queries in the login.php file
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules
- Review and sanitize all user input handling throughout the application
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been identified for this vulnerability. The affected software is from code-projects, a resource hub for educational code projects. Organizations using this software should consider implementing manual code fixes or seeking alternative solutions.
For technical details and community discussion, refer to the GitHub CVE Issue Discussion and the VulDB Entry #275767.
Workarounds
- Replace dynamic SQL queries with prepared statements or parameterized queries
- Implement strict input validation using allowlists for the Username field
- Deploy WAF rules to filter SQL injection attempts before they reach the application
- Consider placing the application behind additional authentication layers or restricting network access
The recommended approach is to modify the login.php code to use prepared statements with bound parameters, which prevents user input from being interpreted as SQL code regardless of its content.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
