CVE-2023-38879 Scanner

openSIS is a popular open-source student information system used by schools and educational organizations worldwide. It offers features such as student enrollment, grade management, and attendance tracking in a highly customizable platform. openSIS is utilized by administrators, teachers, and parents to streamline and centralize school operations, providing a user-friendly interface and robust reporting tools. This system is particularly beneficial for managing educational resources efficiently and ensuring the smooth operation of school activities. With multiple modules available, openSIS aims to maximize productivity and ensure seamless communication between various stakeholders in the educational sector.

The Path Traversal vulnerability in openSIS allows attackers to access directories and files stored outside the webroot folder, which is not intended to be accessible. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the file path input provided by users, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the path using traversal sequences like "../". This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive files such as configuration files, database credentials, or system files that may contain critical data or lead to further exploitation. By exploiting path traversal vulnerabilities, attackers may gain insight into the server's file structure and other valuable information that can compromise system security.

The Path Traversal vulnerability in openSIS is found in the 'filename' parameter within the DownloadWindow.php script. This particular end point does not adequately validate or sanitize the input, allowing attackers to traverse directories and access arbitrary files on the server. Attackers craft special HTTP requests that include traversal characters to reach sensitive files not meant for public access. As a result, the vulnerability allows retrieval of potentially confidential data by bypassing security restrictions assumed safe within standard application settings. The vulnerability is marked by accessing system-critical files such as /etc/passwd, evidencing an exploitation method.

When the Path Traversal vulnerability in openSIS is exploited, attackers could gain access to sensitive files that contain critical and confidential data, leading to a variety of damaging outcomes. Unauthorized file access may lead to disclosure of sensitive information, aiding further attacks such as privilege escalation or remote code execution. System files like passwords or configuration settings could be revealed, increasing the risk of compromised user accounts and network integrity. Potential data theft or unauthorized system control could result from exploiting this vulnerability, significantly damaging organizational operations relying on secure data access and storage.

REFERENCES

• https://github.com/dub-flow/vulnerability-research/tree/main/CVE-2023-38879
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38879