CVE-2024-10994
📋 TL;DR
This critical vulnerability in Codezips Online Institute Management System 1.0 allows remote attackers to upload arbitrary files via the /edit_user.php endpoint. Attackers can exploit this to upload malicious files like web shells, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the system. All installations of version 1.0 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Codezips Online Institute Management System
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete system compromise, data theft, and lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Web shell upload enabling persistent backdoor access, file manipulation, and potential privilege escalation.
If Mitigated
File upload attempts blocked or quarantined with no successful exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploit details are publicly available on GitHub. The vulnerability requires minimal technical skill to exploit.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Unknown
Vendor Advisory: None available
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
No official patch available. Consider workarounds or migrating to alternative software.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict file uploads
allBlock or disable the /edit_user.php endpoint or implement strict file upload validation
# In web server config (Apache example):
<Location "/edit_user.php">
Deny from all
</Location>
# In .htaccess:
RewriteRule ^edit_user\.php$ - [F,L]
Implement file upload validation
allAdd server-side validation for uploaded files including file type checking, size limits, and content scanning
# PHP validation example:
$allowed_types = ['image/jpeg', 'image/png', 'image/gif'];
$max_size = 2097152; // 2MB
if (!in_array($_FILES['image']['type'], $allowed_types) || $_FILES['image']['size'] > $max_size) {
die('Invalid file');
}
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block malicious file uploads
- Monitor and alert on suspicious file upload activities to /edit_user.php
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Test if you can upload non-image files (e.g., .php, .txt) to /edit_user.php endpoint. Check system version in admin panel or source code.Check Version:
Check admin panel or look for version information in source files, typically in footer or configuration files.Verify Fix Applied:
Attempt to upload malicious files to /edit_user.php - should be rejected. Verify WAF rules or file validation is working.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- POST requests to /edit_user.php with file uploads
- Uploads of non-image file types (.php, .exe, etc.)
- Large number of failed upload attempts
Network Indicators:
- Unusual traffic patterns to /edit_user.php
- File uploads with suspicious extensions
SIEM Query:
source="web_server" AND (uri="/edit_user.php" AND method="POST") AND (file_extension="php" OR file_extension="exe" OR file_extension="sh")