CVE-2024-7369
📋 TL;DR
This critical SQL injection vulnerability in Simple Realtime Quiz System 1.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username parameter during login. Attackers can potentially steal, modify, or delete database contents, including user credentials and quiz data. All deployments of Simple Realtime Quiz System 1.0 with the vulnerable /ajax.php?action=login endpoint are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- SourceCodester Simple Realtime Quiz System
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete database compromise leading to data theft, data destruction, authentication bypass, and potential remote code execution if database permissions allow.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to sensitive data including user credentials, quiz answers, and personal information stored in the database.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper input validation, parameterized queries, and database permission restrictions in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Public exploit code is available. SQL injection via username parameter requires no authentication and is straightforward to execute.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Unknown
Vendor Advisory: None available
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
No official patch available. Consider implementing workarounds or migrating to alternative software.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation Filter
allAdd server-side validation to reject SQL special characters in username parameter
Modify /ajax.php to add: if (preg_match('/[\'"\-;\\]/', $_POST['username'])) { die('Invalid input'); }
Web Application Firewall Rule
allBlock SQL injection patterns in requests to /ajax.php?action=login
WAF-specific configuration to block SQL keywords in POST parameters
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate the application behind a reverse proxy with strict input validation
- Implement network segmentation to limit database access from application server only
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Test /ajax.php?action=login endpoint with SQL injection payload in username parameter (e.g., admin' OR '1'='1)Check Version:
Check application files or documentation for version 1.0 indicationVerify Fix Applied:
Attempt SQL injection after implementing fixes and verify requests are blocked or sanitized📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- SQL syntax errors in application logs
- Unusual database query patterns from web server IP
Network Indicators:
- POST requests to /ajax.php?action=login containing SQL keywords like UNION, SELECT, OR
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND uri="/ajax.php" AND (username="*'*" OR username="*OR*" OR username="*UNION*")