CVE-2024-35584 identifies a critical SQL injection vulnerability in OpenSis Community Edition, specifically versions 8.0 through 9.1 and possibly earlier. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of the "X-Forwarded-For" HTTP header, which is directly incorporated into SQL INSERT statements without sanitization or parameterization. This issue is present in multiple PHP source files including Ajax.php, ForWindow.php, ForExport.php, Modules.php, and functions/HackingLogFnc.php. Because the application trusts and uses the "X-Forwarded-For" header value directly, an authenticated attacker can craft malicious input to manipulate SQL queries. This can lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, or deletion, and potentially full compromise of the backend database. The vulnerability requires authentication but no additional user interaction, and the attack can be performed remotely over the network. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 reflects high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with low attack complexity and privileges required. Although no known exploits are publicly reported yet, the vulnerability is classified as high risk due to the widespread use of OpenSis in educational institutions and organizations managing student information systems. The root cause is a classic CWE-89 SQL Injection due to lack of input validation and failure to use prepared statements or parameterized queries. Mitigation requires code remediation to sanitize inputs, use parameterized queries, and restrict or validate HTTP header values. Organizations should monitor for patches or updates from OpenSis and consider additional network-level protections to detect or block malicious payloads targeting this vulnerability.

The impact of CVE-2024-35584 is significant for organizations using OpenSis Community Edition, particularly educational institutions and administrative bodies managing student data. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive student and staff information, data tampering, or deletion, severely affecting data integrity and availability. Attackers could escalate privileges or pivot within the network after compromising the database, potentially leading to broader system compromise. The vulnerability undermines trust in the affected systems and may result in regulatory non-compliance, legal consequences, and reputational damage. Given the high CVSS score and the nature of the vulnerability, organizations face risks of data breaches and operational disruption. The requirement for authentication limits exploitation to insiders or compromised accounts, but this does not diminish the threat as insider threats or credential theft are common attack vectors. The absence of known public exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before widespread exploitation occurs.

1. Apply official patches or updates from OpenSis as soon as they become available to address this vulnerability. 2. In the interim, implement strict input validation and sanitization on all HTTP headers, especially the "X-Forwarded-For" header, to reject or neutralize malicious input. 3. Refactor the affected PHP code to use parameterized queries or prepared statements instead of directly concatenating user input into SQL statements. 4. Restrict access to the application to trusted networks or VPNs to reduce exposure to unauthenticated attackers. 5. Monitor logs for unusual or suspicious SQL queries or HTTP header values that may indicate attempted exploitation. 6. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting OpenSis. 7. Conduct regular security audits and code reviews focusing on input handling and database interactions. 8. Educate administrators and users about the risks of credential compromise and enforce strong authentication mechanisms to reduce insider threat risk. 9. Consider network segmentation to isolate critical systems and limit lateral movement if compromise occurs.