CVE-2024-8331 Overview
CVE-2024-8331 is a SQL injection vulnerability in OpenRapid RapidCMS versions up to 1.3.1. The flaw resides in /admin/user/user-move-run.php, where the username parameter is passed directly into a SQL query without proper sanitization. An authenticated remote attacker can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit details have been disclosed publicly, increasing the risk of opportunistic attacks against exposed instances.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low privileges can inject SQL statements through the username argument, potentially accessing or modifying administrative database records.
Affected Products
- OpenRapid RapidCMS versions up to and including 1.3.1
- Component: /admin/user/user-move-run.php
- Vulnerable parameter: username
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-08-30 - CVE-2024-8331 published to NVD
- 2024-09-03 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-8331
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-89] Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. RapidCMS fails to sanitize the username input parameter before incorporating it into a SQL query within user-move-run.php. This administrative endpoint handles user record movement operations and trusts client-supplied values directly.
An attacker with low-privilege authenticated access can submit crafted input that breaks out of the intended SQL context. The injected statements execute with the privileges of the database user backing the CMS. Possible outcomes include disclosure of stored credentials, modification of administrative accounts, and reconnaissance of the underlying database schema.
The attack is reachable over the network and requires no user interaction. Public disclosure of the technique on Gitee and VulDB lowers the barrier for adversaries to weaponize the issue.
Root Cause
The root cause is direct concatenation of unsanitized HTTP request data into a SQL statement. The username argument received by user-move-run.php is not bound through a parameterized query or escaped via a context-aware sanitization routine. RapidCMS does not enforce server-side type or content validation on this administrative input.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs remotely over HTTP against the administrative interface. The attacker authenticates to the CMS with a low-privilege account, then sends a crafted request to /admin/user/user-move-run.php containing SQL metacharacters in the username parameter. The vulnerability mechanism is documented in the Gitee SQL Injection Analysis and tracked in VulDB #276207.
No verified proof-of-concept code is reproduced here. See the referenced advisories for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-8331
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP POST or GET requests to /admin/user/user-move-run.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, --, or /* in the username parameter
- Anomalous database errors or syntax warnings logged by the RapidCMS application or its MySQL backend
- Unexpected modifications to administrative user records or new privileged accounts created outside change control windows
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect requests to /admin/user/* endpoints for SQL injection signatures
- Enable MySQL general query logging temporarily on suspected hosts and search for queries referencing user-move-run.php workflows with concatenated payloads
- Correlate authenticated session activity with administrative endpoint access to identify low-privilege accounts probing admin routes
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on 500-series HTTP responses from administrative PHP endpoints, which often indicate failed injection attempts
- Monitor outbound database connections from the CMS host for unusual volume that could indicate data exfiltration via blind SQL injection
- Track creation, modification, and deletion events on the users table outside the application's normal write patterns
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-8331
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the /admin/ directory using IP allowlists or VPN-only access until a patched build is available
- Audit RapidCMS user accounts and revoke any low-privilege accounts that are no longer needed, since exploitation requires authentication
- Review database and webserver logs for prior access to /admin/user/user-move-run.php containing suspicious username values
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been published in the referenced advisories at the time of NVD publication. Track the VulDB entry and the OpenRapid project for an updated release beyond version 1.3.1.
Workarounds
- Apply a virtual patch at the WAF layer that blocks SQL metacharacters in the username parameter for requests to user-move-run.php
- Enforce least-privilege on the database account used by RapidCMS so that injected queries cannot read or alter tables outside the CMS schema
- Disable or remove the user-move-run.php script if the user-move functionality is not required for operations
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
