The openSIS Community Edition 8.0 platform, a web-based school information system, contains a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in the ForgotPassUserName.php script. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the 'u' parameter in HTTP GET requests, which is used to query the database for password recovery purposes. An attacker with valid administrative credentials can intercept and modify the HTTP request to inject malicious SQL code, such as using 'OR '1'='1' to bypass authentication checks or extract sensitive data. The exploit requires a valid session cookie, indicating that authentication is necessary, but no additional user interaction is required beyond sending the crafted request. The vulnerability corresponds to CVE-2021-40617 and has been demonstrated on Windows platforms. The exploit code is publicly available, facilitating potential attacks. Although no active widespread exploitation has been reported, the presence of exploit code lowers the barrier for attackers. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity by potentially exposing or modifying sensitive student and staff data stored in the database. The lack of patches or official remediation guidance in the provided data suggests that organizations must implement immediate mitigations. Given openSIS's use in educational institutions, the threat targets critical systems managing personal and academic records.

For European organizations, especially educational institutions using openSIS Community Edition 8.0, this SQL Injection vulnerability poses significant risks. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive personal data of students and staff, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations, resulting in legal and financial penalties. Attackers could manipulate or delete records, impacting data integrity and disrupting school operations. The requirement for admin authentication limits exposure but also means that compromised admin credentials could lead to full system compromise. The vulnerability could be leveraged for lateral movement within networks or as a foothold for further attacks. Given the critical nature of educational data and the increasing digitization of school systems in Europe, the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is substantial. Additionally, reputational damage and loss of trust in affected institutions could be severe.

European organizations should immediately audit their openSIS deployments to identify affected versions. Since no official patches are referenced, organizations must implement strict input validation and parameterized queries in the ForgotPassUserName.php script to prevent SQL Injection. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting SQL Injection patterns, especially on the vulnerable endpoint. Restrict administrative access using multi-factor authentication (MFA) and monitor admin sessions for unusual activity. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities. Segregate the openSIS system within the network to limit lateral movement if compromised. Educate administrators on secure session management and the risks of session hijacking. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups of critical data to enable recovery in case of data tampering or loss.