This vulnerability description refers to an SQL Injection (SQLi) flaw in the Phpgurukul Land Record System v1.0, specifically in the forgot-password.php script within the admin panel. Here’s a breakdown of the issue:
Understanding the Vulnerability
- Affected Component:
- The issue is in the /admin/forgot-password.php file, which is used to handle password reset requests in the application.
- Attack Vector:
- The vulnerability exists in the processing of the contactno parameter in a POST request.
- The application likely takes user input (such as a phone number or contact number) and incorporates it directly into an SQL query without proper sanitization or parameterized queries.
- Exploitation Potential:
- If an attacker inputs specially crafted SQL code instead of a valid contact number, they could manipulate the underlying SQL query.
- This could allow them to modify the database, retrieve sensitive information, or even execute arbitrary code depending on the database configuration.
Possible Exploit Example
If the vulnerable code looks something like this:
An attacker could send a malicious contactno value like:
This would result in the query:
Since 1=1 is always true, the query would return all users, potentially exposing admin credentials or sensitive data.
Potential Impact
- Unauthorized Access: Attackers could reset the password for an admin account.
- Database Manipulation: Data could be modified or deleted.
- Remote Code Execution (RCE): If SQLi is used to write malicious scripts into the database, it could lead to execution of arbitrary PHP code.
Mitigation Steps
Use Prepared Statements:
- Instead of directly inserting user input into SQL queries, use prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection.
- Example using MySQLi (PHP):
Input Validation & Sanitization:
- Ensure that the contact number field only accepts numeric input.
- Strip out any special characters or limit input length.
Apply Web Application Firewall (WAF):
- A WAF can help detect and block SQLi attempts in real time.
Least Privilege Database Permissions:
- The database user should have minimum privileges required to operate, reducing the impact of a successful SQLi attack.
Conclusion
This SQL injection flaw in Phpgurukul Land Record System v1.0 poses a serious security risk, as it allows attackers to manipulate the database and potentially execute arbitrary code. Immediate patching and secure coding practices should be implemented to mitigate the risk.