Code-Projects Student File Management System SQL Injection Vulnerability in login_query.php

A SQL injection vulnerability exists in version 1.0 of the Code-Projects Student File Management System, specifically within the login_query.php file. The vulnerability arises because the application improperly sanitizes the stud_no parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code. This exploitation can be done remotely and without authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized database access, data manipulation, and disruption of services.

Impact

Exploitation of this vulnerability allows for SQL injection, where an attacker can interfere with the application's database queries. This could lead to unauthorized data access, data modification or deletion, and in some cases, executing administrative operations on the database.

Reproduction

The vulnerability can be reproduced by sending a POST request to the application's login endpoint with the stud_no parameter. Injecting SQL payloads, such as those exploiting boolean-based blind or time-based blind SQL injection techniques, can manipulate the application's SQL query handling and extract or modify database information.

Remediation

It is recommended to use prepared statements and parameter binding to prevent SQL injection. Additionally, input validation and filtering should be implemented to ensure that user input meets expected formats, blocking malicious data. Finally, database user permissions should be minimized, ensuring that the account used for database connections has only the necessary privileges.