CVE-2024-0182 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability identified in SourceCodester Engineers Online Portal version 1.0, specifically within the /admin/ component responsible for Admin Login functionality. The vulnerability arises due to improper sanitization or validation of the 'username' and 'password' input parameters, allowing an attacker to inject malicious SQL code. This injection flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate backend database queries without requiring authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). Exploiting this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data (confidentiality impact), modification or corruption of data (integrity impact), and potential disruption of service (availability impact). Although no public exploits are currently known, the ease of exploitation and the critical nature of administrative access make this a significant threat. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which is a well-known category of injection flaws that remain a common and dangerous attack vector in web applications. The absence of available patches increases the urgency for mitigation and risk management.

For European organizations using the Engineers Online Portal 1.0, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to administrative functions, exposing sensitive engineering project data, intellectual property, and user credentials. This could result in data breaches, loss of data integrity, and operational disruptions. Given the portal’s role in managing engineering workflows, any compromise could affect project timelines and client trust. Furthermore, regulatory frameworks such as GDPR impose strict requirements on data protection; a breach resulting from this vulnerability could lead to significant legal and financial penalties. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the attack vector increases the likelihood of exploitation, especially in environments where the portal is exposed to the internet without adequate network segmentation or web application firewalls.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting external access to the /admin/ login interface through network-level controls such as VPNs or IP whitelisting to limit exposure. 2. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules specifically designed to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the username and password parameters. 3. Conduct a thorough code review and apply proper input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements to eliminate SQL injection vulnerabilities in the affected component. 4. If possible, upgrade to a newer, patched version of the Engineers Online Portal once available or apply vendor-provided patches promptly. 5. Monitor logs for suspicious login attempts or anomalous database queries indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Educate administrators and developers about secure coding practices and the importance of sanitizing user inputs. 7. As a temporary measure, consider disabling the vulnerable admin login functionality if it is not critical or replace it with a more secure authentication mechanism.