CVE-2024-9081 Overview
CVE-2024-9081 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Online Eyewear Shop 1.0, developed by oretnom23. The flaw resides in the view_category.php file, where the id parameter is passed directly into a database query without proper sanitization. Attackers can manipulate this parameter remotely to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic attacks against exposed instances. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low privileges can read, modify, or delete database contents by injecting SQL payloads through the id parameter of view_category.php.
Affected Products
- SourceCodester Online Eyewear Shop 1.0
- Vendor: oretnom23
- Component: view_category.php
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-09-22 - CVE-2024-9081 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-9081
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability affects the category viewing functionality of the Online Eyewear Shop web application. The view_category.php script accepts an id argument via HTTP request and passes it into a backend SQL query without input validation or parameterization. Attackers can supply crafted values that break out of the intended query context and append arbitrary SQL clauses.
Exploitation requires network access to the application and low-privilege authentication. No user interaction is needed to trigger the flaw. Because the application is a PHP-based e-commerce platform, successful injection can expose customer records, order data, and administrative credentials stored in the backing MySQL database.
The exploit details have been disclosed publicly through VulDB entry #278251 and a GitHub CVE overview, which lowers the barrier for automated scanners and opportunistic attackers.
Root Cause
The root cause is the direct concatenation of user-supplied input into a SQL statement within view_category.php. The application does not use prepared statements, parameterized queries, or input-type validation for the id parameter. This design flaw maps directly to CWE-89.
Attack Vector
An attacker sends an HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint with a manipulated id query parameter. The payload can include SQL operators such as UNION SELECT, boolean-based blind conditions, or time-based delays. Because the attack is remote and requires no user interaction, it can be automated against internet-facing deployments of the application.
No verified proof-of-concept code is included here. Technical details are documented in the referenced GitHub CVE overview.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-9081
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to view_category.php containing SQL syntax such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP(, --, %27, or OR 1=1 in the id parameter.
- Unexpected database errors or verbose MySQL error messages returned to clients from the eyewear shop application.
- Anomalous database query volume or long-running queries originating from the web application service account.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect the id parameter of view_category.php for SQL metacharacters and known injection signatures.
- Enable database query logging and alert on queries containing tautologies, stacked statements, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA access from the eyewear shop application.
- Correlate web access logs with database audit logs to identify request-to-query patterns consistent with injection probing.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor outbound data volumes from the web server to detect bulk exfiltration following successful injection.
- Alert on repeated 500-series HTTP responses from view_category.php, which often accompany injection fuzzing.
- Track authentication anomalies for accounts whose credentials may have been extracted from the database.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-9081
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the Online Eyewear Shop application until a patch is applied, using IP allow-listing or authentication proxies.
- Deploy WAF signatures to block SQL injection payloads targeting the id parameter of view_category.php.
- Rotate database credentials and audit for any unauthorized data access or account creation.
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been published by oretnom23 at the time of writing. Users should monitor the SourceCodester project page for updates and consider migrating to an actively maintained e-commerce platform if no fix is released.
Workarounds
- Modify view_category.php to use parameterized queries or prepared statements via PDO or mysqli with bound parameters.
- Enforce strict type casting on the id parameter, for example using intval($_GET['id']) before it reaches the SQL query.
- Apply least-privilege database permissions so the application account cannot read sensitive tables or execute administrative statements.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
