CVE-2018-25333 Overview
CVE-2018-25333 is an SQL injection vulnerability in the Nordex N149/4.0-4.5 Wind Turbine Web Server version 4.0. The flaw resides in login.php, where the login parameter passed via HTTP POST is concatenated into a backend SQL query without sanitization. Unauthenticated attackers with network access to the management interface can inject arbitrary SQL syntax to extract database contents or bypass authentication controls. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network attackers can extract sensitive database content and bypass authentication on industrial wind turbine management interfaces.
Affected Products
- Nordex N149/4.0-4.5 Wind Turbine Web Server 4.0
- login.php authentication endpoint
- Backend database accessed through the web management interface
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-17 - CVE-2018-25333 published to NVD
- 2026-05-18 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2018-25333
Vulnerability Analysis
The Nordex N149/4.0-4.5 Wind Turbine Web Server exposes a login endpoint at login.php that accepts user-supplied credentials via HTTP POST. The application embeds the login parameter directly into a SQL statement without parameterization or input validation. Attackers can submit crafted payloads in the login field to alter query logic, returning data outside the original query scope or evaluating attacker-controlled boolean conditions.
Because the vulnerable endpoint is the authentication entry point itself, exploitation requires no prior credentials. The attack vector is network-based and the attack complexity is low. A successful exploit can return sensitive records from the underlying database, including stored credentials and configuration data tied to operational technology assets.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in a SQL command [CWE-89]. The login.php script constructs SQL queries through string concatenation of untrusted POST input rather than using prepared statements or parameterized queries. No allowlist filtering, escaping, or input typing is applied to the login parameter before it reaches the database driver.
Attack Vector
An attacker reaches the wind turbine web server over the network and issues a POST request to login.php containing SQL metacharacters in the login field. By appending boolean expressions or UNION SELECT clauses, the attacker can coerce the query to return arbitrary rows or evaluate to true, bypassing authentication. Public exploitation details are documented in Exploit-DB #44684 and the VulnCheck Advisory for Nordex N149. No verified exploit code is reproduced here.
Detection Methods for CVE-2018-25333
Indicators of Compromise
- POST requests to /login.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, --, #, OR 1=1, or UNION SELECT in the login parameter.
- Web server access logs showing unusually large response sizes or HTTP 500 errors originating from login.php.
- Successful authentication events from login.php lacking a corresponding valid credential submission pattern.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that inspects POST bodies submitted to login.php for common SQL injection signatures.
- Enable database query logging and alert on syntactically unusual statements originating from the web application service account.
- Correlate network traffic to the turbine management interface against an allowlist of authorized engineering workstations.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor authentication audit trails for logins succeeding without preceding password validation events.
- Capture and review full HTTP request bodies sent to the wind turbine web server for offline payload analysis.
- Alert on any outbound connections from the turbine controller to non-corporate networks following login activity.
How to Mitigate CVE-2018-25333
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the Nordex N149/4.0-4.5 web server to a dedicated operational technology management VLAN and authorized jump hosts.
- Place the management interface behind a VPN or zero-trust gateway requiring strong authentication before reaching login.php.
- Audit the backend database for unauthorized accounts, modified records, or evidence of historical data extraction.
Patch Information
No vendor patch information is referenced in the available advisory data. Operators should contact Nordex through the Nordex official website to confirm fixed firmware availability for the N149/4.0-4.5 Wind Turbine Web Server and consult the VulnCheck advisory for the latest remediation guidance.
Workarounds
- Block direct internet exposure of the turbine web server and require IPsec or TLS VPN access from a hardened administrative network.
- Deploy a reverse proxy or web application firewall in front of login.php with rules that reject requests containing SQL metacharacters in the login parameter.
- Rotate credentials stored in the wind turbine database and invalidate any session tokens that may have been exposed prior to mitigation.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
