CVE-2019-25433: XOOPS CMS SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2019-25433 Overview

XOOPS CMS 2.5.9 contains an SQL injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting SQL code through the cid parameter. Attackers can send GET requests to the gerar_pdf.php endpoint with malicious cid values to extract sensitive database information. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL injection to extract sensitive database contents, potentially compromising user credentials, site configuration, and other confidential data stored in the XOOPS CMS database.

Affected Products

• XOOPS CMS 2.5.9

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-22 - CVE CVE-2019-25433 published to NVD
• 2026-02-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25433

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability exists in the gerar_pdf.php endpoint of XOOPS CMS 2.5.9. The application fails to properly sanitize or parameterize user-supplied input in the cid parameter before incorporating it into database queries. This allows an unauthenticated attacker to inject arbitrary SQL statements that will be executed by the database server with the privileges of the web application's database user.

The vulnerability requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely over the network. Once exploited, an attacker can read sensitive data from the database, including user credentials, configuration settings, and potentially administrative information. While the primary impact is on data confidentiality, attackers may also be able to modify database contents depending on the database permissions configured for the application.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input validation and failure to use parameterized queries or prepared statements in the gerar_pdf.php script. User-supplied data from the cid GET parameter is directly concatenated into SQL query strings without adequate sanitization, escaping, or type validation. This classic SQL injection pattern allows attackers to break out of the intended query context and inject their own malicious SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack is conducted remotely over the network by sending crafted HTTP GET requests to the vulnerable gerar_pdf.php endpoint. An attacker constructs a malicious URL containing SQL injection payloads in the cid parameter. Since no authentication is required, any network-connected attacker can attempt exploitation.

The exploitation technique typically involves:

1. Identifying the vulnerable endpoint (gerar_pdf.php) and the injectable parameter (cid)
2. Determining the database type and structure through error-based or blind SQL injection techniques
3. Extracting data using UNION-based queries or out-of-band techniques
4. Potentially escalating to write access or command execution depending on database configuration

For detailed technical information and proof-of-concept examples, refer to the Exploit-DB #46835 entry and the VulnCheck Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25433

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP GET requests to gerar_pdf.php containing suspicious characters in the cid parameter such as single quotes, UNION statements, or SQL keywords
• Web server logs showing multiple requests to gerar_pdf.php with varying cid values, indicative of automated injection testing
• Database logs revealing unusual queries, errors, or queries containing injected SQL syntax
• Unexpected data access patterns or bulk data retrieval from the database

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns in URL parameters
• Implement Intrusion Detection System (IDS) signatures targeting SQL injection attack payloads in HTTP traffic
• Monitor web server access logs for requests to gerar_pdf.php with anomalous or malformed cid parameter values
• Enable database query logging and alert on queries containing SQL injection indicators such as UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, or comment sequences

Monitoring Recommendations

• Establish baseline traffic patterns to gerar_pdf.php and alert on deviations that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Configure real-time alerting for database errors related to malformed SQL queries
• Implement log aggregation and correlation to identify reconnaissance and exploitation phases across multiple log sources
• Monitor for signs of data exfiltration following successful exploitation, such as unusual outbound traffic or database dumps

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25433

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict or disable access to the gerar_pdf.php script until a patch can be applied
• Implement WAF rules to block requests containing SQL injection patterns in the cid parameter
• Review database user permissions and ensure the web application account has minimal necessary privileges
• Audit database contents for signs of unauthorized access or data extraction

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available in the CVE data. Administrators should monitor the XOOPS Official Website for security updates and apply patches as soon as they become available. Consider upgrading to a newer version of XOOPS CMS if available.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation at the application level to ensure the cid parameter only accepts expected numeric values
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with rules specifically targeting SQL injection attacks on this endpoint
• Consider removing or restricting access to the gerar_pdf.php functionality if it is not essential to site operations
• Use database-level controls such as stored procedures with parameterized inputs as an additional defensive layer

# Example: Block access to vulnerable endpoint via .htaccess
<Files "gerar_pdf.php">
    Order deny,allow
    Deny from all
    # Allow only from trusted IPs if needed
    # Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
</Files>