Projectworlds Online Admission System SQL Injection Vulnerability in Process Login PHP

A SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in the Projectworlds Online Admission System version 1.0, specifically within the process_login.php file. This vulnerability arises from inadequate validation of user input in the 'keywords' parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to the database, manipulation or deletion of data, and exposure of sensitive information. Notably, this vulnerability can be exploited remotely without any authentication.

Impact

Exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially leading to unauthorized database access, data manipulation or deletion, and exposure of sensitive information. Such actions can disrupt services and compromise overall system security.

Reproduction

The vulnerability can be reproduced by sending a POST request to 'process_login.php' with a crafted 'keywords' parameter that includes malicious SQL payloads. This can be done using tools like sqlmap, which automates the process of finding and exploiting SQL injection vulnerabilities.

Remediation

It is recommended to implement input validation and filtering for the 'keywords' parameter to prevent SQL injection. Additionally, using prepared statements and parameter binding in SQL queries can mitigate this vulnerability. Regular security audits and minimizing database user permissions are also advisable.