CVE-2019-25442 Overview
CVE-2019-25442 is an SQL injection vulnerability affecting Web Wiz Forums version 12.01. The vulnerability exists in the member_profile.asp script, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input through the PF parameter. This allows unauthenticated remote attackers to inject malicious SQL code via crafted GET requests, potentially enabling extraction of sensitive database information including user credentials, personal data, and administrative details.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL injection flaw to extract sensitive database contents, potentially compromising user credentials and forum administrative data without requiring any authentication.
Affected Products
- Web Wiz Forums version 12.01
- webwiz web_wiz_forums
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-22 - CVE CVE-2019-25442 published to NVD
- 2026-02-26 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2019-25442
Vulnerability Analysis
This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) in Web Wiz Forums 12.01 occurs due to improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The member_profile.asp endpoint accepts user input through the PF GET parameter but fails to implement adequate input validation or parameterized queries. This architectural flaw allows attackers to break out of the intended SQL query structure and inject arbitrary SQL statements.
The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication, meaning any remote attacker with network access to the forum can exploit it. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, or in some cases, command execution on the underlying database server depending on the database configuration and privileges.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation and the use of dynamic SQL queries that directly concatenate user-supplied input. The member_profile.asp script constructs SQL queries using the PF parameter value without proper sanitization, escaping, or the use of parameterized queries (prepared statements). This allows special SQL characters and commands to be interpreted as part of the query structure rather than as literal data.
Attack Vector
The attack is conducted over the network by sending specially crafted HTTP GET requests to the vulnerable member_profile.asp endpoint. An attacker constructs a malicious URL containing SQL injection payloads in the PF parameter. These payloads can include UNION-based injection techniques to extract data from other tables, boolean-based blind injection to infer database contents, or time-based blind injection for environments where error messages are suppressed.
The attack requires no user interaction and no authentication, making it easily exploitable by automated scanning tools and opportunistic attackers. Technical details and proof-of-concept information can be found in the Exploit-DB #47284 entry and the Vulncheck Advisory on SQL Injection.
Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25442
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual GET requests to member_profile.asp containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, OR, AND, single quotes, or double dashes in the PF parameter
- Database error messages appearing in web server logs or being returned to clients
- Unexpected database queries or high database load originating from web application connections
- Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized database access in audit logs
Detection Strategies
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in the PF parameter
- Monitor web server access logs for requests to member_profile.asp with suspicious URL-encoded characters or SQL syntax
- Enable database query logging and alert on anomalous query patterns or queries containing unexpected table references
- Deploy intrusion detection systems with signatures for common SQL injection attack patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure real-time alerting for HTTP 500 errors or database error responses from the forum application
- Establish baseline metrics for member_profile.asp request patterns and alert on deviations
- Monitor database user activity for unusual data access patterns or bulk data retrieval operations
- Implement centralized logging for correlation of web application and database events
How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25442
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the Web Wiz Forums installation to trusted networks only if possible
- Implement input validation at the web server or WAF level to filter SQL injection attempts in the PF parameter
- Review database permissions to ensure the forum application uses a least-privilege database account
- Enable database auditing to detect any exploitation attempts
Patch Information
No vendor patches or security advisories have been identified in the available CVE data. Organizations should contact Web Wiz directly for information about security updates. For additional technical details, refer to the Exploit-DB #47284 entry and the Vulncheck Advisory.
Workarounds
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) configured to block SQL injection patterns targeting the PF parameter
- Implement URL rewriting rules to sanitize or reject requests containing suspicious characters in query parameters
- Consider disabling or restricting access to member_profile.asp if the functionality is not business-critical
- Migrate to a maintained forum platform if Web Wiz Forums is no longer receiving security updates
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
