CVE-2023-40944: Schoolmate 1.3 SQL Injection Vulnerability in the $schoolname Variable in the ~\header.php File

A critical SQL Injection vulnerability has been discovered in Schoolmate 1.3, a popular web-based school management application. The vulnerability, assigned as CVE-2023-40944, affects the $schoolname variable within the ~\header.php file. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the application, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or even remote code execution. This post will discuss the details of the vulnerability, its potential impact, and recommended mitigations.

Affected Versions

Schoolmate 1.3

Exploit Details

The vulnerability occurs due to insufficient input validation and parameter binding in the ~\header.php file, specifically related to the $schoolname variable. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL queries, which the application then executes, potentially leading to unauthorized database access or manipulation.

In the ~\header.php file, the vulnerable code block is as follows

$query = "SELECT * FROM schoolinfo WHERE schoolname='$schoolname'";
$result = mysql_query($query);

Here, $schoolname is not properly validated or parameter-bound, allowing an attacker to inject malicious SQL code.

Proof of Concept

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable application. In this request, the $schoolname variable could be manipulated to carry the malicious SQL payload. For example:

GET /schoolmate/header.php?schoolname='; DROP TABLE users; --

This request would result in the application executing the following SQL query

SELECT * FROM schoolinfo WHERE schoolname=''; DROP TABLE users; --'

As a result, the "users" table from the database would be dropped, leading to potential data loss or application disruption.

Original References

- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/49398
- https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-40944

Impact

An attacker exploiting the CVE-2023-40944 vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying database, manipulate or exfiltrate sensitive data, or even execute arbitrary code on the application server. This poses a significant risk to the security and stability of the affected application, as well as the privacy of students, faculty, and administrative staff.

Mitigation

The developers of the Schoolmate application have not yet released a patch addressing CVE-2023-40944. Until a fix becomes available, users of the affected application are advised to implement the following mitigations:

1. Perform input validation and parameter binding on all user-supplied input, especially in the ~\header.php file, to prevent the introduction and execution of malicious SQL queries.
2. Ensure that the application is running with the least amount of privileges necessary to perform its functions. This will limit the potential impact of a successful attack.

Conclusion

CVE-2023-40944 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting Schoolmate 1.3. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and parameter binding, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands. Users should be cautious when using the vulnerable application and are advised to implement the recommended mitigations until a security patch is available.

Timeline

Published on: 09/11/2023 20:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 09/13/2023 03:49:47 UTC