Summary
A SQL injection vulnerability in the Login function of the PHP file-management system allows attacker-controlled username or password input to influence database queries. Because the vulnerable endpoint is remotely accessible, an unauthenticated attacker may be able to interfere with authentication or access and modify database information when input is processed unsafely.
A SQL injection vulnerability in the Login function of the PHP file-management system allows attacker-controlled username or password input to influence database queries. Because the vulnerable endpoint is remotely accessible, an unauthenticated attacker may be able to interfere with authentication or access and modify database information when input is processed unsafely.
Affected context
The vulnerability occurs in the application's login workflow, specifically where the username and password arguments are handled by the Login function in admin_class.php. Risk is present when these values are incorporated into SQL statements without reliable parameterization and the login endpoint is reachable by remote users.
The vulnerability occurs in the application's login workflow, specifically where the username and password arguments are handled by the Login function in admin_class.php. Risk is present when these values are incorporated into SQL statements without reliable parameterization and the login endpoint is reachable by remote users.
Exploit preconditions
- Attack surface: Remotely accessible login functionality
- Required access: Ability to submit requests to the login endpoint; valid credentials may not be required
- Trigger point: Processing of attacker-controlled
usernameorpasswordvalues - Why exploitation is possible: Input may alter the intended structure or logic of a database query when it is not separated from SQL code
- Attack surface: Remotely accessible login functionality
- Required access: Ability to submit requests to the login endpoint; valid credentials may not be required
- Trigger point: Processing of attacker-controlled
usernameorpasswordvalues - Why exploitation is possible: Input may alter the intended structure or logic of a database query when it is not separated from SQL code
Why this happens
The underlying bug is improper neutralization of externally controlled input before it is used in a database query. This is primarily CWE-89: SQL Injection, with CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component describing the broader failure to preserve the boundary between data and SQL syntax. The insecure pattern is constructing or executing SQL statements with concatenated or otherwise unparameterized login input.
The underlying bug is improper neutralization of externally controlled input before it is used in a database query. This is primarily CWE-89: SQL Injection, with CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component describing the broader failure to preserve the boundary between data and SQL syntax. The insecure pattern is constructing or executing SQL statements with concatenated or otherwise unparameterized login input.
Potential impact
- An attacker may bypass authentication checks
- Sensitive database records could be read or extracted
- Database contents could be modified or deleted
- Application availability could be disrupted
- Account, file metadata, or authorization information could be exposed
- An attacker may bypass authentication checks
- Sensitive database records could be read or extracted
- Database contents could be modified or deleted
- Application availability could be disrupted
- Account, file metadata, or authorization information could be exposed
General mitigation guidance
Mitigation generally focuses on keeping user input separate from database commands and reducing the trust placed in request parameters.
Common defensive patterns include:
- Use parameterized queries or prepared statements for every database operation
- Prefer database access layers that bind values by type rather than composing SQL text
- Apply allowlist validation appropriate to each field without treating validation as a replacement for parameterization
- Use database accounts with only the permissions required by the application
- Avoid returning detailed database errors to clients
- Centralize authentication data access and enforce secure-by-default query behavior
Mitigation generally focuses on keeping user input separate from database commands and reducing the trust placed in request parameters.
Common defensive patterns include:
- Use parameterized queries or prepared statements for every database operation
- Prefer database access layers that bind values by type rather than composing SQL text
- Apply allowlist validation appropriate to each field without treating validation as a replacement for parameterization
- Use database accounts with only the permissions required by the application
- Avoid returning detailed database errors to clients
- Centralize authentication data access and enforce secure-by-default query behavior
How teams detect issues like this
Detection can include static analysis for string concatenation, interpolation, or formatting used to build SQL statements from request parameters. Code review should examine authentication handlers, database abstraction usage, and whether all query values are bound parameters.
Runtime monitoring may identify repeated malformed login requests, database errors, unusual authentication success patterns, or unexpected query behavior. Policy enforcement can require parameterized database APIs and security testing of externally reachable form and API inputs; automated review tools may help flag common unsafe query-construction patterns.
Detection can include static analysis for string concatenation, interpolation, or formatting used to build SQL statements from request parameters. Code review should examine authentication handlers, database abstraction usage, and whether all query values are bound parameters.
Runtime monitoring may identify repeated malformed login requests, database errors, unusual authentication success patterns, or unexpected query behavior. Policy enforcement can require parameterized database APIs and security testing of externally reachable form and API inputs; automated review tools may help flag common unsafe query-construction patterns.
Sources
| Source | Link |
|---|---|
| github. | github.com/ |
| github. | github.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
| vuldb. | vuldb.com/ |
