CVE-2019-25576: Kepler Wallpaper Script SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2019-25576 Overview

Kepler Wallpaper Script 1.1 contains an SQL injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries by injecting malicious code into the category parameter. Attackers can send GET requests to the category endpoint with URL-encoded SQL UNION statements to extract database information including usernames, database names, and MySQL version details.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can extract sensitive database information including user credentials, database structure, and MySQL server details through SQL injection in the category parameter.

Affected Products

• Kepler Wallpaper Script version 1.1
• Web applications using vulnerable Kepler Wallpaper Script installations

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-21 - CVE CVE-2019-25576 published to NVD
• 2026-03-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25576

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89: SQL Injection, a critical web application security flaw that occurs when user-supplied input is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. In Kepler Wallpaper Script 1.1, the category parameter accepts user input that is directly concatenated into SQL queries, allowing attackers to manipulate the query structure and execute arbitrary SQL commands.

The attack is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication, meaning any remote attacker with network access to the vulnerable application can exploit it. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform UNION-based SQL injection attacks to extract data from the backend database, potentially compromising all stored information.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of proper input validation and parameterized queries in the category parameter handling. The application directly incorporates user-supplied input from GET requests into SQL queries without sanitization, escaping, or the use of prepared statements. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query context and inject their own SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed over the network through HTTP GET requests targeting the category endpoint. Attackers craft malicious requests containing URL-encoded SQL UNION statements in the category parameter. By manipulating the query structure, attackers can append additional SELECT statements that extract sensitive information from the database.

A typical exploitation scenario involves sending crafted GET requests with payloads like URL-encoded UNION SELECT statements that retrieve the current database user, database name, and MySQL version. The extracted data is returned in the application's response, providing attackers with valuable reconnaissance information for further attacks.

For technical details on the exploitation technique, refer to the Exploit-DB #46207 entry and the VulnCheck SQL Injection Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25576

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP GET requests to category endpoints containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, FROM, or CONCAT
• URL-encoded SQL injection payloads in the category parameter (e.g., %27, %20UNION%20)
• Unusual database query patterns or errors in application logs indicating malformed SQL statements
• Web access logs showing repeated requests to the category endpoint with varying payloads

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules targeting common injection patterns
• Implement intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor for SQL injection attack signatures in HTTP traffic
• Enable database query logging to identify anomalous or malicious query patterns
• Configure application-level logging to capture and alert on requests containing suspicious SQL syntax

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor web server access logs for requests containing SQL keywords or encoded special characters in query parameters
• Set up real-time alerting for database errors that may indicate injection attempts
• Track failed and unusual database authentication attempts that could result from extracted credentials
• Review application performance metrics for anomalies that may indicate ongoing data exfiltration

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25576

Immediate Actions Required

• Audit all instances of Kepler Wallpaper Script 1.1 in your environment and assess exposure
• Implement input validation and sanitization for the category parameter as a temporary measure
• Consider taking vulnerable installations offline or restricting network access until properly patched
• Review database access logs for signs of prior exploitation and potential data compromise

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been identified in the available CVE data. Organizations should contact the vendor or check the CodeClerks PHP Script page for any security updates. If no patch is available, implementing the workarounds below is critical.

Workarounds

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) configured to block SQL injection patterns in the category parameter
• Implement server-side input validation to reject requests containing SQL syntax or special characters
• Use prepared statements or parameterized queries if modifying the application source code is feasible
• Restrict database user privileges to minimum required permissions to limit the impact of successful exploitation
• Consider migrating to an alternative, actively maintained wallpaper script solution

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) to block SQL injection in category parameter
SecRule ARGS:category "@rx (?i)(union|select|from|concat|char|--)" \
    "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'SQL Injection attempt blocked in category parameter'"