Overview
CVE-2021-41691 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability discovered in OS4Ed Open Source Information System Community version 8.0. This vulnerability may allow attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via a POST request to the /TransferredOutModal.php endpoint, exploiting the “student_id” and “TRANSFER[SCHOOL]” parameters. Given its severity, this vulnerability has the potential to compromise system security and result in data leakage if left unaddressed. It is crucial to understand the nature of this vulnerability, how it can be exploited, and the steps needed to mitigate the associated risks.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2021-41691
Severity: Critical (CVSS: 9.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
OS4Ed Open Source Information System Community | v8.0
How the Exploit Works
The exploit works by an attacker sending a maliciously crafted POST request to the /TransferredOutModal.php endpoint. This request includes manipulative SQL commands in the “student_id” and “TRANSFER[SCHOOL]” parameters. The application fails to properly sanitize the input, allowing the attacker’s SQL commands to be executed directly on the database. This can potentially lead to unauthorized data modification, data leakage, or even full system compromise.
Conceptual Example Code
Here is a
conceptual
example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:
POST /TransferredOutModal.php HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
student_id=1; DROP TABLE users;--&TRANSFER[SCHOOL]='TestSchool'In this example, the attacker inserts a SQL command to drop a table from the database. This is a conceptual example and the actual attack payload would depend on the database structure and the attacker’s objectives.
Mitigation
To mitigate this vulnerability, it’s recommended to apply the vendor’s patch as soon as it’s available. In case the patch is not immediately available or can’t be immediately applied due to various reasons, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation. These systems can identify and block SQL injection attempts, thus protecting the application until the patch can be applied.