CVE-2018-25173: Rmedia SMS 1.0 SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2018-25173 Overview

CVE-2018-25173 is an SQL Injection vulnerability affecting Rmedia SMS 1.0, a web-based SMS management application. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to extract database information by injecting SQL code through the gid parameter in the editgrp.php script. Attackers can craft malicious GET requests using EXTRACTVALUE and CONCAT SQL functions to retrieve schema names and sensitive database data without authentication.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can extract sensitive database information including schema names, user credentials, and other confidential data stored in the application database through SQL injection attacks.

Affected Products

• Rmedia SMS version 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-06 - CVE CVE-2018-25173 published to NVD
• 2026-03-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2018-25173

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the editgrp.php file of Rmedia SMS 1.0. The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input through the gid parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. This lack of input validation allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL code that executes within the context of the database.

The vulnerability is particularly severe because it can be exploited without authentication, meaning any remote attacker with network access to the application can attempt exploitation. The attack leverages SQL functions like EXTRACTVALUE and CONCAT to perform error-based or time-based blind SQL injection, enabling data exfiltration from the underlying database.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and insufficient sanitization of the gid parameter in editgrp.php. The application directly concatenates user-supplied input into SQL queries without using parameterized queries or prepared statements, creating a classic SQL injection attack surface. This violates secure coding practices that mandate treating all user input as untrusted.

Attack Vector

The attack is conducted over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. An attacker sends a crafted GET request to the editgrp.php endpoint with a malicious gid parameter value. The injected SQL payload can include functions such as EXTRACTVALUE to trigger XML parsing errors that reveal database information, or CONCAT to construct queries that extract specific data from database tables.

The vulnerability allows attackers to read sensitive data from the database, potentially including user credentials, application configuration data, and other confidential information. The attack can be automated using common SQL injection tools like SQLMap.

Detection Methods for CVE-2018-25173

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed requests to editgrp.php containing SQL syntax in the gid parameter
• Database error messages in application logs referencing EXTRACTVALUE, CONCAT, or other SQL functions
• Access logs showing repeated requests with progressively modified gid values indicating enumeration attempts
• Database query logs showing unauthorized SELECT statements accessing schema metadata tables

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in HTTP parameters
• Monitor application logs for requests containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, EXTRACTVALUE, CONCAT, and information_schema
• Implement intrusion detection signatures for SQL injection attack patterns targeting the editgrp.php endpoint
• Configure database audit logging to track unusual query patterns or access to sensitive tables

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on the web server to capture full request parameters for forensic analysis
• Set up alerts for multiple failed or malformed requests originating from the same IP address
• Monitor database performance metrics for anomalies that may indicate data extraction activities
• Regularly review access logs for suspicious patterns targeting vulnerable endpoints

How to Mitigate CVE-2018-25173

Immediate Actions Required

• Immediately restrict network access to Rmedia SMS 1.0 installations until remediation is complete
• Deploy WAF rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting the gid parameter
• If possible, disable or remove access to the editgrp.php script as an interim measure
• Review database logs for evidence of prior exploitation and assess potential data exposure

Patch Information

No official vendor patch information is available for this vulnerability. Organizations using Rmedia SMS 1.0 should consider the mitigations and workarounds listed below, or evaluate alternative SMS management solutions that are actively maintained with security updates.

For additional technical details, refer to the Exploit-DB #45855 entry and the VulnCheck Advisory.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation at the web server level to reject requests with SQL syntax in parameters
• Use a reverse proxy or WAF to filter malicious requests before they reach the application
• Restrict database user privileges used by the application to minimize the impact of successful SQL injection
• Consider replacing the vulnerable application with a more secure, actively maintained alternative

# Example WAF rule for ModSecurity to block SQL injection in gid parameter
SecRule ARGS:gid "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in gid parameter',\
    log,\
    auditlog"