CVE-2023-43469: Uncovering an SQL Injection Vulnerability in Janobe Online Job Portal v.202

The security of online job platforms is of critical importance for users to keep their personal information safe and protect them from potential malfeasance. Following a detailed examination of Janobe Online Job Portal v.202, we have discovered an SQL injection vulnerability (CVE-2023-43469) that potentially allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through the ForPass.php component. This could potentially lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, as well as sensitive databases or configurations.

In this long read post, we will delve into the details of CVE-2023-43469, the code snippet associated with the vulnerability, and the exploit details. By doing so, we hope to provide insight into the security implications and to offer mitigations for end-users and administrators.

The Vulnerability: CVE-2023-43469
Janobe Online Job Portal v.202's ForPass.php component has been identified as the root cause of the SQL injection vulnerability (CVE-2023-43469). The vulnerability primarily exists due to improper validation of user-supplied input, which leads to the insecure handling of data. As a result, remote attackers can insert malicious SQL query strings and execute arbitrary code that could compromise the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the affected online job portal.

For an in-depth understanding about SQL injection, please refer to the following sources

1. OWASP SQL Injection
2. SQL Injection Explained: A Guide for Developers

The vulnerable code snippet in the ForPass.php component is as follows

$email = $_POST['email'];
$query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = '".$email."'";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

if($result){
    // Send password reset email
}

The snippet above showcases that user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being used in the SQL query. This allows hackers to exploit the ForPass.php component by injecting malicious SQL code through the 'email' parameter.

For a proof-of-concept exploit, attackers can use the following payload

email=test@example.com' UNION SELECT 1,2,3;--

By injecting the payload into the email field, attackers can manipulate the SQL query

SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = 'test@example.com' UNION SELECT 1,2,3;--'

The crafted SQL query above allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL statements on the job portal's database. Depending on the permissions assigned, hackers can potentially gain full access to sensitive functionality and data within the job portal.

Mitigations

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is crucial to sanitize and validate user-supplied input. The following considerations and practices are recommended:

1. Use input validation techniques that conform to best practices, such as using prepared statements with parameterized queries or stored procedures, to avoid passing user-supplied data directly into a SQL query.
2. Implement a web application firewall (WAF) to filter out suspicious or malicious input before reaching the application code.

For more information, refer to these resources

- OWASP SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet
- Top Ten Database Security Best Practices

Conclusion

The discovery of the SQL injection vulnerability (CVE-2023-43469) in Janobe Online Job Portal v.202 serves as a vital reminder about the importance of secure and robust web application practices. By understanding the vulnerability and implementing the suggested mitigations, both end-users and administrators can ensure that their job portal remains a safe environment.

Timeline

Published on: 09/23/2023 00:15:20 UTC
Last modified on: 09/25/2023 13:52:25 UTC