CVE-2018-25166: Meneame Pligg 5.8 SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2018-25166 Overview

CVE-2018-25166 is an SQL injection vulnerability affecting Meneame English Pligg version 5.8. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries by injecting malicious code through the search parameter in the index.php file. By crafting GET requests with SQL payloads, attackers can extract sensitive database information including usernames, database names, and version details.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection flaw to extract sensitive database contents, potentially compromising all stored user credentials and application data.

Affected Products

• Meneame English Pligg 5.8

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-06 - CVE-2018-25166 published to NVD
• 2026-03-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2018-25166

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command), commonly known as SQL Injection. The flaw exists in the search functionality of Meneame English Pligg 5.8, where user-supplied input via the search parameter is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL queries.

When a user submits a search request, the application constructs a database query using the search parameter value directly. Without adequate input validation or parameterized queries, an attacker can manipulate the SQL statement structure by injecting special characters and SQL syntax. This allows the attacker to bypass intended query logic, access unauthorized data, or potentially modify database contents.

The network-based attack vector requires no authentication or user interaction, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for internet-facing installations. Successful exploitation could lead to complete disclosure of sensitive database information.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the search functionality. The application directly concatenates user-supplied search parameter values into SQL query strings without sanitization, escaping, or the use of prepared statements. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query context and inject arbitrary SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed via network-based GET requests to index.php with a crafted search parameter. Attackers can leverage various SQL injection techniques such as UNION-based queries, boolean-based blind injection, or time-based blind injection to exfiltrate data. The attack requires no privileges and can be performed without any user interaction, making it easily automatable.

The vulnerability allows attackers to retrieve sensitive information such as database version details, table schemas, user credentials, and other stored data. For detailed exploitation techniques, see the Exploit-DB #45875 entry and the VulnCheck Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2018-25166

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual GET requests to index.php containing SQL keywords in the search parameter (e.g., UNION, SELECT, OR 1=1, --)
• Database error messages in application logs indicating malformed SQL syntax
• Unexpected database queries extracting user tables, schema information, or credentials
• High volume of search requests from a single IP address with varying SQL syntax patterns

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in HTTP parameters
• Configure database activity monitoring to alert on suspicious query patterns such as UNION SELECT statements or information_schema access
• Enable detailed logging on web servers and review search parameter values for SQL injection signatures
• Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with SQL injection detection rulesets

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor application logs for SQL error messages that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Set up alerts for anomalous database query patterns, particularly those accessing system tables
• Review access logs for repeated requests to index.php with encoded or obfuscated search parameters
• Implement rate limiting on search functionality to slow down automated exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2018-25166

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply input validation and sanitization to all user-supplied parameters, especially the search parameter
• Implement prepared statements or parameterized queries in the application code
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules as an interim measure
• Consider taking the affected search functionality offline until a proper fix can be implemented
• Review database permissions and ensure the application uses least-privilege database accounts

Patch Information

No official vendor patch information is available in the CVE data. Organizations should check with the vendor or consider migrating to a maintained content management system. For additional technical details, refer to the VulnCheck Advisory.

Workarounds

• Disable or remove the vulnerable search functionality until a code-level fix is implemented
• Implement server-side input validation to filter out SQL injection characters and keywords from the search parameter
• Use a WAF to block requests containing common SQL injection patterns targeting the search parameter
• Restrict database user permissions to read-only access where possible to limit the impact of successful exploitation

# Example WAF rule to block SQL injection in search parameter (ModSecurity)
SecRule ARGS:search "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    block,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in search parameter',\
    log,\
    severity:'CRITICAL'"