CVE-2018-25208: qdPM 9.1 SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2018-25208 Overview

CVE-2018-25208 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting qdPM 9.1, a popular open-source web-based project management application built on Symfony and PHP. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to extract database information by injecting SQL code through filter_by parameters. Attackers can submit malicious POST requests to the timeReport endpoint with crafted filter_by[CommentCreatedFrom] and filter_by[CommentCreatedTo] parameters to execute arbitrary SQL queries and retrieve sensitive data.

Critical Impact

This SQL Injection vulnerability enables unauthenticated remote attackers to extract sensitive database contents including user credentials, project data, and potentially achieve complete database compromise through the exploitation of unsanitized filter parameters.

Affected Products

• qdPM 9.1
• qdPM web-based project management application

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-26 - CVE CVE-2018-25208 published to NVD
• 2026-03-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2018-25208

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the time reporting functionality of qdPM 9.1. The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input within the filter_by parameters before incorporating them into SQL queries. When a user submits a POST request to the timeReport endpoint, the filter_by[CommentCreatedFrom] and filter_by[CommentCreatedTo] parameters are directly concatenated into SQL statements without adequate input validation or parameterized queries.

The lack of authentication requirements for exploiting this vulnerability significantly increases its risk profile, as any network-accessible attacker can target the application without needing valid credentials. Successful exploitation allows attackers to read arbitrary data from the database, potentially including user credentials, project information, client data, and other sensitive business information stored within the qdPM database.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the qdPM application. The timeReport endpoint processes user-supplied filter parameters (filter_by[CommentCreatedFrom] and filter_by[CommentCreatedTo]) without sanitization, directly embedding the raw input into SQL query strings. This classic SQL Injection pattern occurs when developers concatenate user input into SQL statements instead of using prepared statements with bound parameters or proper input escaping mechanisms.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2018-25208 is network-based, requiring no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP POST requests targeting the timeReport endpoint of a vulnerable qdPM installation. By injecting SQL syntax into the filter_by[CommentCreatedFrom] or filter_by[CommentCreatedTo] parameters, attackers can manipulate the underlying SQL query to extract database information, enumerate tables, dump credentials, or perform other database operations depending on the database user privileges and backend configuration.

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network, making internet-facing qdPM installations particularly at risk. Technical details and exploitation techniques are available through the Exploit-DB #45767 reference.

Detection Methods for CVE-2018-25208

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed POST requests to the /timeReport endpoint containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, UNION SELECT statements, or comment sequences
• Database error messages appearing in application logs or HTTP responses indicating SQL syntax errors
• Unexpected database queries or access patterns in database audit logs, particularly SELECT statements accessing multiple tables
• Web server logs showing repeated requests to the timeReport endpoint with encoded or obfuscated parameters

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL Injection patterns in POST parameters, specifically targeting filter_by parameter names
• Implement database activity monitoring to identify anomalous query patterns or unauthorized data access attempts
• Enable verbose logging on the web application to capture all parameter values submitted to the timeReport endpoint
• Utilize intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL Injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor web server access logs for suspicious patterns targeting the qdPM timeReport endpoint
• Configure database audit logging to track all queries executed against the qdPM database
• Set up alerting for database error conditions that may indicate SQL Injection attempts
• Review network traffic for unusual outbound data transfers that could indicate data exfiltration

How to Mitigate CVE-2018-25208

Immediate Actions Required

• Assess whether your qdPM installation is version 9.1 and immediately restrict network access to the application if vulnerable
• Implement Web Application Firewall rules to block SQL Injection attempts targeting the filter_by parameters
• Review database access logs for evidence of exploitation and rotate any potentially compromised credentials
• Consider taking vulnerable qdPM installations offline until a patch can be applied or mitigations are in place

Patch Information

Users should check the qdPM official website for updated versions that address this SQL Injection vulnerability. The qdPM download page provides access to the latest releases. Additionally, consult the VulnCheck SQL Injection Advisory for detailed remediation guidance.

Workarounds

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) in front of the qdPM application with rules specifically blocking SQL Injection patterns in POST parameters
• Restrict network access to the qdPM application using firewall rules, allowing only trusted IP addresses to reach the service
• If possible, disable or restrict access to the timeReport functionality until a proper fix is applied
• Implement database user privilege restrictions to limit the potential impact of SQL Injection attacks by using a database account with minimal necessary permissions

# Example: Restrict access to qdPM using iptables (adjust IP ranges as needed)
# Block external access to qdPM port
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 0.0.0.0/0 -j DROP
# Allow only trusted internal network
iptables -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 192.168.0.0/16 -j ACCEPT