CVE-2019-25538: 202CMS v10 Beta SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2019-25538 Overview

202CMS v10 beta contains an SQL injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting SQL code through the log_user parameter. Attackers can send crafted requests with malicious SQL statements in the log_user field to extract sensitive database information or modify database contents. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit the SQL injection vulnerability in 202CMS v10 beta to extract sensitive database information, modify database contents, or potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying system without requiring any user interaction.

Affected Products

• 202CMS v10 beta

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-12 - CVE-2019-25538 published to NVD
• 2026-03-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25538

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability exists in the 202CMS v10 beta content management system. The vulnerable component fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input in the log_user parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands that are then executed by the database engine with the application's privileges.

The vulnerability requires no authentication to exploit, meaning any remote attacker with network access to the application can attempt exploitation. The attack can be performed over the network without any user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible 202CMS installations.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and the lack of parameterized queries in the 202CMS v10 beta application. When processing the log_user parameter, the application directly concatenates user input into SQL queries without proper sanitization or use of prepared statements. This allows special SQL characters and commands to be interpreted as part of the query structure rather than as data values.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote exploitation without authentication. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing SQL injection payloads in the log_user parameter. These payloads can include UNION-based injection techniques to extract data from other database tables, blind SQL injection techniques to infer database contents through application behavior, time-based blind injection using database-specific delay functions, or stacked queries to modify or delete database records.

The vulnerability can be exploited to extract sensitive information such as user credentials, session tokens, or other confidential data stored in the database. For detailed technical information about the exploit, refer to the Exploit-DB #46579 entry and the VulnCheck Advisory on SQL Injection.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25538

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed log_user parameter values in web server access logs containing SQL syntax such as UNION, SELECT, --, or '
• Database query logs showing unexpected queries or error messages related to SQL syntax errors
• Sudden increases in database query execution time indicating time-based blind SQL injection attempts
• Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized database modifications

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) configured with SQL injection detection rules to identify and block malicious requests targeting the log_user parameter
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns, unauthorized data access, or query syntax anomalies
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on HTTP requests containing common SQL injection patterns
• Review web server and application logs for suspicious request patterns targeting authentication endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all database queries and monitor for SQL injection signatures
• Set up real-time alerts for failed login attempts combined with unusual parameter values
• Monitor network traffic for data exfiltration patterns that may indicate successful exploitation
• Implement rate limiting on authentication endpoints to slow down automated exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25538

Immediate Actions Required

• Immediately audit and restrict network access to 202CMS v10 beta installations until patched
• Deploy web application firewall rules to block requests containing SQL injection patterns in the log_user parameter
• Review database logs for signs of exploitation and assess potential data compromise
• Consider taking affected 202CMS instances offline if they contain sensitive data and cannot be adequately protected

Patch Information

No official patch information is currently available from the vendor. Organizations using 202CMS v10 beta should monitor the SourceForge Project Overview for security updates. Given that this is a beta version, users should consider migrating to an alternative CMS solution or a stable, actively maintained version if available.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation at the application layer to reject log_user values containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, double dashes, and semicolons
• Use a web application firewall with SQL injection protection to filter malicious requests before they reach the application
• Restrict network access to the 202CMS application using IP whitelisting or VPN requirements
• If possible, modify the application code to use parameterized queries or prepared statements for all database operations involving user input

# Example WAF rule to block SQL injection in log_user parameter
# ModSecurity rule example
SecRule ARGS:log_user "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:100001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in log_user parameter',\
    log,\
    auditlog"