CVE-2022-39976 - SQL Injection Vulnerability in School Activity Updates with SMS Notification v1.

A serious SQL injection vulnerability (CVE-2022-39976) has been discovered in the popular web application, School Activity Updates with SMS Notification v1., which allows remote and unauthorized attackers to inject arbitrary SQL code and exploit the application's database. This post will provide an in-depth analysis of the vulnerability, including a code snippet demonstrating the exploit and links to original references.

Vulnerability Details

The SQL injection vulnerability is found in the /modules/announcement/index.php file, specifically in the handling of the 'id' parameter when used in conjunction with the 'edit' view. By manipulating the 'id' parameter with a carefully crafted SQL payload, an attacker can influence the query's behavior and access sensitive information or perform unauthorized actions on the database.

Here's a simple code snippet demonstrating the vulnerability in the /modules/announcement/index.php

$View = isset($_GET['view']) ? $_GET['view'] : '';
$Id = isset($_GET['id']) ? $_GET['id'] : ''; // The 'id' parameter is vulnerable to SQL injection

switch ($View) {
    case 'edit':
        $Statement = $DB->prepare("SELECT * FROM tblannounce WHERE ANNOUCEMENT_ID = :id");
        $Statement->bindParam(':id', $Id, PDO::PARAM_INT);
        ...
}

The problematic code accepts the 'id' parameter through the GET request and binds it to the SQL query without proper input validation or parameterized queries. This leaves the application vulnerable to SQL injection attacks.

To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker might send a GET request with an 'id' parameter containing SQL code like the following:

http://target.com/modules/announcement/index.php?view=edit&id=1%20OR%201=1

This request could cause the application to return all rows from the 'tblannounce' table rather than just the specified 'id', potentially revealing sensitive information.

Mitigation

To address this vulnerability, it's essential to implement proper input validation and use prepared statements or parameterized queries. Developers should modify the vulnerable code snippet as follows:

$View = isset($_GET['view']) ? $_GET['view'] : '';
$Id = isset($_GET['id']) ? intval($_GET['id']) : ; // Convert 'id' to an integer value

switch ($View) {
    case 'edit':
        $Statement = $DB->prepare("SELECT * FROM tblannounce WHERE ANNOUCEMENT_ID = ?");
        $Statement->execute(array($Id)); // Use prepared statements and parameterized queries
        ...
}

This code modification ensures that the 'id' parameter is treated as an integer, stripping out any potentially malicious SQL code. Additionally, the use of prepared statements and parameterized queries prevents the injection of arbitrary SQL code into the query.

The vulnerability was originally reported on the following websites

1. CVE Reference
2. Exploit Database

Conclusion

CVE-2022-39976 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in School Activity Updates with SMS Notification v1., which could potentially expose sensitive information and allow unauthorized actions on the database. To protect against this vulnerability, developers should implement proper input validation and use prepared statements or parameterized queries.

Stay informed on the latest CVEs and be sure to update your applications as needed. Furthermore, when developing web applications, it's essential to prioritize security practices, such as input validation and secure coding techniques, to mitigate the risk of vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorized access and potential data breaches.

Timeline

Published on: 10/27/2022 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 10/28/2022 18:56:00 UTC