Summary
A remotely exploitable SQL injection vulnerability affects several database operations in the Online-Examination-System application. An attacker who can influence the id, user, or topic parameters may alter database queries, potentially accessing, modifying, or disrupting examination data.
A remotely exploitable SQL injection vulnerability affects several database operations in the Online-Examination-System application. An attacker who can influence the id, user, or topic parameters may alter database queries, potentially accessing, modifying, or disrupting examination data.
Affected context
The vulnerability occurs in the application's results and database helper components, including functions that validate identifiers, retrieve results, enumerate exams, determine the latest exam, and generate reports. It becomes risky when remotely supplied request parameters are incorporated into SQL statements without reliable parameterization or equivalent query-safety controls.
The vulnerability occurs in the application's results and database helper components, including functions that validate identifiers, retrieve results, enumerate exams, determine the latest exam, and generate reports. It becomes risky when remotely supplied request parameters are incorporated into SQL statements without reliable parameterization or equivalent query-safety controls.
Exploit preconditions
- Attack surface: Remotely reachable web application endpoints - Required access: Ability to submit requests containing the affected id,
user, or topic parameters; authentication requirements may depend on the
specific endpoint
- Trigger point: Database-backed operations in results.php and
include/database.php
- Why exploitation is possible: User-controlled input can influence SQL query
construction without sufficient separation between data and query logic
- Attack surface: Remotely reachable web application endpoints - Required access: Ability to submit requests containing the affected id,
user, or topic parameters; authentication requirements may depend on the
specific endpoint
- Trigger point: Database-backed operations in results.php and
include/database.php
- Why exploitation is possible: User-controlled input can influence SQL query
construction without sufficient separation between data and query logic
Why this happens
The underlying bug is an injection flaw in which externally controlled parameter values are combined with SQL statements as executable query syntax. This maps primarily to CWE-89, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. CWE-74 is also relevant because the broader pattern involves insufficient neutralization of special elements in an interpreted command or language.
The underlying bug is an injection flaw in which externally controlled parameter values are combined with SQL statements as executable query syntax. This maps primarily to CWE-89, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. CWE-74 is also relevant because the broader pattern involves insufficient neutralization of special elements in an interpreted command or language.
Potential impact
- An attacker may read sensitive examination, user, or report data.
- An attacker could alter, delete, or corrupt records.
- The application may expose administrative or other unauthorized database information.
- Database availability may be degraded through disruptive queries.
- Additional compromise could occur if the database account has excessive privileges.
- An attacker may read sensitive examination, user, or report data.
- An attacker could alter, delete, or corrupt records.
- The application may expose administrative or other unauthorized database information.
- Database availability may be degraded through disruptive queries.
- Additional compromise could occur if the database account has excessive privileges.
General mitigation guidance
Mitigation generally centers on eliminating dynamic SQL construction from untrusted values. Common defensive patterns include parameterized queries or prepared statements, strict allowlist validation for identifiers and other structured inputs, and safe query-builder abstractions. Input trust should be reduced at every request boundary, while database accounts should use the minimum privileges required. Generic error handling, restricted database network exposure, and secure-by-default data-access components can further limit impact.
Mitigation generally centers on eliminating dynamic SQL construction from untrusted values. Common defensive patterns include parameterized queries or prepared statements, strict allowlist validation for identifiers and other structured inputs, and safe query-builder abstractions. Input trust should be reduced at every request boundary, while database accounts should use the minimum privileges required. Generic error handling, restricted database network exposure, and secure-by-default data-access components can further limit impact.
How teams detect issues like this
Detection approaches include static analysis for string concatenation or interpolation in SQL construction, review of all database calls receiving request parameters, and dynamic testing of affected endpoints with non-destructive injection probes. Code review should examine validation functions and ensure that validation is not treated as a substitute for parameterization. CI policies can require approved database-access APIs, reject unsafe query patterns, and flag changes to results.php or database helper code. Automated security review tools may help identify related injection paths.
Detection approaches include static analysis for string concatenation or interpolation in SQL construction, review of all database calls receiving request parameters, and dynamic testing of affected endpoints with non-destructive injection probes. Code review should examine validation functions and ensure that validation is not treated as a substitute for parameterization. CI policies can require approved database-access APIs, reject unsafe query patterns, and flag changes to results.php or database helper code. Automated security review tools may help identify related injection paths.
Sources
| Source | Link |
|---|---|
| github. | github.com/ |
| github. | github.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
