Summary
A SQL injection vulnerability in the Performance Indicator System 1.0 may allow remote attackers to influence database queries through the Category parameter in /opils/staff/product.php.
Successful exploitation could expose, alter, or delete database information, depending on the privileges available to the application database account.
A SQL injection vulnerability in the Performance Indicator System 1.0 may allow remote attackers to influence database queries through the Category parameter in /opils/staff/product.php.
Successful exploitation could expose, alter, or delete database information, depending on the privileges available to the application database account.
Affected context
The issue occurs in the product processing functionality of SourceCodester Performance Indicator System 1.0, where the Category argument is incorporated into database operations without sufficiently separating user-supplied data from query logic. Risk is higher when the endpoint is remotely reachable and the application database account has broad privileges.
The issue occurs in the product processing functionality of SourceCodester Performance Indicator System 1.0, where the Category argument is incorporated into database operations without sufficiently separating user-supplied data from query logic. Risk is higher when the endpoint is remotely reachable and the application database account has broad privileges.
Exploit preconditions
- Attack surface: The remotely accessible
/opils/staff/product.phpendpoint - Required access: Access sufficient to submit requests containing the
Categoryparameter; authentication requirements may depend on deployment configuration - Trigger point: Processing of the
Categoryargument during a database query - Why exploitation is possible: User-controlled input may be interpreted as part of a SQL statement rather than strictly as data
- Attack surface: The remotely accessible
/opils/staff/product.phpendpoint - Required access: Access sufficient to submit requests containing the
Categoryparameter; authentication requirements may depend on deployment configuration - Trigger point: Processing of the
Categoryargument during a database query - Why exploitation is possible: User-controlled input may be interpreted as part of a SQL statement rather than strictly as data
Why this happens
The underlying bug is an insufficient separation between untrusted request data and SQL query syntax. When the Category value is incorporated into a database operation without parameterization or equivalent context-aware handling, an attacker may alter the intended query behavior. This maps primarily to CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command (SQL Injection); the broader CWE-74 classification reflects improper neutralization of special elements in an output used by a downstream interpreter.
The underlying bug is an insufficient separation between untrusted request data and SQL query syntax. When the Category value is incorporated into a database operation without parameterization or equivalent context-aware handling, an attacker may alter the intended query behavior. This maps primarily to CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command (SQL Injection); the broader CWE-74 classification reflects improper neutralization of special elements in an output used by a downstream interpreter.
Potential impact
- An attacker may read unauthorized application or business data.
- An attacker could modify or delete database records.
- The application may disclose sensitive information through database error behavior.
- Database integrity and availability could be affected.
- Broader compromise may be possible if the database account or hosting environment has excessive privileges.
- An attacker may read unauthorized application or business data.
- An attacker could modify or delete database records.
- The application may disclose sensitive information through database error behavior.
- Database integrity and availability could be affected.
- Broader compromise may be possible if the database account or hosting environment has excessive privileges.
General mitigation guidance
Mitigation generally centers on ensuring that all database operations treat request values as data rather than executable query syntax.
Common defensive patterns include:
- Using parameterized queries or prepared statements for every database operation.
- Applying allowlist validation for category values where the accepted set is known.
- Avoiding dynamic SQL construction from request parameters.
- Limiting the database account to the minimum permissions required by the application.
- Reducing sensitive data exposure in database errors and application responses.
- Keeping input trust boundaries explicit across request handling and data-access layers.
Mitigation generally centers on ensuring that all database operations treat request values as data rather than executable query syntax.
Common defensive patterns include:
- Using parameterized queries or prepared statements for every database operation.
- Applying allowlist validation for category values where the accepted set is known.
- Avoiding dynamic SQL construction from request parameters.
- Limiting the database account to the minimum permissions required by the application.
- Reducing sensitive data exposure in database errors and application responses.
- Keeping input trust boundaries explicit across request handling and data-access layers.
How teams detect issues like this
Detection approaches may include:
- Static analysis rules that identify string concatenation or interpolation inside SQL calls.
- Code review checks for unparameterized database queries involving request-derived values.
- Dynamic testing for unexpected query behavior using controlled, non-destructive input variations.
- Web application firewall or gateway policies that identify suspicious SQL syntax patterns, recognizing that such controls are supplementary.
- Database monitoring for anomalous query structures, access patterns, or privilege use.
Detection approaches may include:
- Static analysis rules that identify string concatenation or interpolation inside SQL calls.
- Code review checks for unparameterized database queries involving request-derived values.
- Dynamic testing for unexpected query behavior using controlled, non-destructive input variations.
- Web application firewall or gateway policies that identify suspicious SQL syntax patterns, recognizing that such controls are supplementary.
- Database monitoring for anomalous query structures, access patterns, or privilege use.
Sources
| Source | Link |
|---|---|
| github. | github.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| sourcecodester. | sourcecodester.com/ |
