CVE-2024-9817: Blood Bank System SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2024-9817 Overview

CVE-2024-9817 is a SQL injection vulnerability in code-projects Blood Bank System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /update.php file, where the name parameter is passed directly to a database query without proper sanitization. Remote attackers with low-level privileges can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic attacks against exposed installations. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-89] Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can inject arbitrary SQL queries through the name parameter of /update.php, potentially exposing or altering donor and blood bank data stored in the backend database.

Affected Products

code-projects Blood Bank System 1.0
Deployments using the vulnerable /update.php endpoint
Installations exposing the application over the network

Discovery Timeline

2024-10-10 - CVE-2024-9817 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-9817

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability affects the update handler in the Blood Bank System web application. User-supplied input in the name argument is concatenated into a SQL statement without parameterization or input filtering. An authenticated attacker can submit a crafted request to /update.php and alter the structure of the resulting query. Successful exploitation permits reading, modifying, or deleting database records tied to blood bank operations. The attack requires no user interaction and can be performed remotely over the network.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special SQL elements in the name request parameter. The application passes untrusted input directly into a dynamic query rather than using prepared statements or parameter binding. This design allows any attacker able to reach /update.php to break out of the intended query context.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network against the /update.php endpoint. An attacker submits a modified name parameter containing SQL metacharacters and query fragments. Because the vulnerability requires only low privileges and no user interaction, automated scanners can identify and exploit vulnerable instances at scale. Public disclosure of the technique on VulDB and GitHub increases exposure. Refer to the GitHub CVE Documentation for the technical write-up.

No verified proof-of-concept code is included here. See the VulDB entry #279969 for additional technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-9817

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /update.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, --, or ; in the name parameter
Unexpected database errors or verbose SQL error messages returned to clients accessing update.php
Anomalous database read or write patterns originating from the Blood Bank System application user

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect POST and GET parameters to /update.php for SQL injection payloads
Enable database query logging and alert on queries containing tautologies or stacked statements from the application account
Correlate web server access logs with database audit logs to identify parameter tampering against the name field

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor authentication events and track sessions that access /update.php outside normal administrative workflows
Alert on repeated 500-series HTTP responses from update.php, which often indicate injection probing
Baseline expected request volume and payload size for the endpoint and flag deviations

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-9817

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict access to /update.php using network controls or authentication proxies until a fix is applied
Audit database logs for evidence of prior injection attempts against the name parameter
Rotate database credentials used by the Blood Bank System application if compromise is suspected

Patch Information

No official vendor patch is listed in the NVD entry or referenced advisories. Users of code-projects Blood Bank System 1.0 should monitor the Code Projects site for updates and consider replacing the application with a maintained alternative. In the absence of a vendor fix, apply the workarounds below and modify the affected source to use parameterized queries.

Workarounds

Rewrite the affected query in update.php to use prepared statements with bound parameters via PDO or MySQLi
Apply strict server-side input validation on the name parameter, rejecting characters that are not required for legitimate values
Deploy a WAF signature that blocks SQL injection payloads targeting the /update.php endpoint
Remove or firewall the application from public networks if it is not required to be internet-facing

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking SQLi patterns on /update.php
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@streq /update.php" \
  "phase:2,chain,deny,status:403,id:1009817,msg:'Potential SQLi on Blood Bank update.php'"
  SecRule ARGS:name "@detectSQLi" "t:none"