Summary
A remotely reachable SQL injection flaw in the EmployeeRecruitmentSystem login handler allows crafted email or password input to alter database queries. An attacker may exploit this condition to bypass authentication, access sensitive records, or modify application data.
A remotely reachable SQL injection flaw in the EmployeeRecruitmentSystem login handler allows crafted email or password input to alter database queries. An attacker may exploit this condition to bypass authentication, access sensitive records, or modify application data.
Affected context
The vulnerability occurs in the login-processing component when user-controlled email or password values reach the mysql_query function without reliable query parameterization or equivalent neutralization. It primarily affects deployments using the identified legacy code line and exposed login functionality, particularly where the application and database service operate with excessive privileges.
The vulnerability occurs in the login-processing component when user-controlled email or password values reach the mysql_query function without reliable query parameterization or equivalent neutralization. It primarily affects deployments using the identified legacy code line and exposed login functionality, particularly where the application and database service operate with excessive privileges.
Exploit preconditions
- Attack surface: Internet-accessible or otherwise remotely reachable login endpoint
- Required access: No authenticated account may be necessary if the login handler accepts unauthenticated requests
- Trigger point: Processing of the email or password parameters in
source/loginprocessing.php - Why exploitation is possible: User input can influence SQL statement structure rather than being treated strictly as data
- Attack surface: Internet-accessible or otherwise remotely reachable login endpoint
- Required access: No authenticated account may be necessary if the login handler accepts unauthenticated requests
- Trigger point: Processing of the email or password parameters in
source/loginprocessing.php - Why exploitation is possible: User input can influence SQL statement structure rather than being treated strictly as data
Why this happens
The underlying bug is improper neutralization of externally controlled input before it is incorporated into a database query. This behavior maps primarily to CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command (SQL Injection) and is also related to CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component. The insecure pattern typically involves constructing SQL statements through string concatenation or equivalent interpolation instead of using parameterized queries and controlled database interfaces.
The underlying bug is improper neutralization of externally controlled input before it is incorporated into a database query. This behavior maps primarily to CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command (SQL Injection) and is also related to CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component. The insecure pattern typically involves constructing SQL statements through string concatenation or equivalent interpolation instead of using parameterized queries and controlled database interfaces.
Potential impact
- An attacker may bypass application authentication
- Sensitive employee or recruitment records could be disclosed
- Database records could be altered or deleted
- Application behavior or authorization decisions could be manipulated
- A highly privileged database account could increase the consequences
- An attacker may bypass application authentication
- Sensitive employee or recruitment records could be disclosed
- Database records could be altered or deleted
- Application behavior or authorization decisions could be manipulated
- A highly privileged database account could increase the consequences
General mitigation guidance
Mitigation generally focuses on ensuring that database commands treat all request values as data rather than executable query syntax.
Common defensive patterns include:
- Use parameterized queries or prepared statements for every database operation
- Avoid dynamic SQL construction from request parameters
- Apply allowlist validation appropriate to each input field without relying on validation as the sole defense
- Use database accounts with only the permissions required by the application
- Centralize data-access logic and prohibit direct query construction in request handlers
- Protect legacy, unsupported deployments through isolation, restricted network exposure, and controlled access
- Record and review suspicious authentication and database-error activity
Mitigation generally focuses on ensuring that database commands treat all request values as data rather than executable query syntax.
Common defensive patterns include:
- Use parameterized queries or prepared statements for every database operation
- Avoid dynamic SQL construction from request parameters
- Apply allowlist validation appropriate to each input field without relying on validation as the sole defense
- Use database accounts with only the permissions required by the application
- Centralize data-access logic and prohibit direct query construction in request handlers
- Protect legacy, unsupported deployments through isolation, restricted network exposure, and controlled access
- Record and review suspicious authentication and database-error activity
How teams detect issues like this
Organizations commonly identify this class of issue through:
- Static analysis rules for string concatenation or interpolation in SQL APIs
- Code review checks covering login handlers and all request-to-database data flows
- Application testing with benign special-character and boundary-value inputs
- Runtime monitoring for anomalous query errors, authentication patterns, and unexpected database access
- Policy enforcement requiring prepared statements and approved data-access libraries
- Automated security review tools that flag unsafely constructed database queries
Organizations commonly identify this class of issue through:
- Static analysis rules for string concatenation or interpolation in SQL APIs
- Code review checks covering login handlers and all request-to-database data flows
- Application testing with benign special-character and boundary-value inputs
- Runtime monitoring for anomalous query errors, authentication patterns, and unexpected database access
- Policy enforcement requiring prepared statements and approved data-access libraries
- Automated security review tools that flag unsafely constructed database queries
Sources
| Source | Link |
|---|---|
| github. | github.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
