CVE-2019-25635: Zeeways Matrimony CMS SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2019-25635 Overview

CVE-2019-25635 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting Zeeways Matrimony CMS. The vulnerability exists in multiple parameters within the profile_list endpoint, allowing unauthenticated attackers to manipulate database queries and extract sensitive information. Attackers can inject SQL code via the up_cast, s_mother, and s_religion parameters to perform time-based or error-based SQL injection attacks against the underlying database.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive user data, including personal information, credentials, and potentially gain unauthorized access to the matrimony platform's database.

Affected Products

• Zeeways Matrimony CMS

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-24 - CVE-2019-25635 published to NVD
• 2026-03-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25635

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) affects the Zeeways Matrimony CMS web application through improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The vulnerable endpoint profile_list fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries executed against the backend database.

The vulnerability is network-accessible, meaning attackers can exploit it remotely without requiring any authentication or user interaction. This makes it particularly dangerous for internet-facing matrimony websites using this CMS. When exploited, attackers can achieve high confidentiality impact by extracting sensitive data from the database, and low integrity impact by potentially modifying database contents.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the profile_list endpoint. The application directly incorporates user-controlled input from the up_cast, s_mother, and s_religion parameters into SQL queries without proper sanitization or escaping. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query context and inject arbitrary SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed over the network by sending specially crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable profile_list endpoint. Attackers can manipulate the up_cast, s_mother, or s_religion parameters to inject SQL payloads. The vulnerability supports both time-based blind SQL injection (using functions like SLEEP() or BENCHMARK() to infer data) and error-based SQL injection (extracting data through error messages). No authentication is required, making this vulnerability accessible to any remote attacker who can reach the application.

Technical details and proof-of-concept information are available in the Exploit-DB #46603 entry and the VulnCheck Zeeways SQL Injection Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25635

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to profile_list endpoint containing SQL syntax such as UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, SLEEP(), or comment sequences (--, /**/)
• Unusual patterns in the up_cast, s_mother, or s_religion parameters including single quotes, semicolons, or encoded SQL characters
• Database error messages appearing in web server logs or responses indicating SQL syntax errors
• Anomalous database query execution times suggesting time-based blind injection attempts

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in requests to the profile_list endpoint
• Monitor web server access logs for requests containing suspicious SQL keywords or injection patterns in query parameters
• Enable database query logging and alert on anomalous or malformed queries originating from the web application
• Implement intrusion detection signatures for known SQL injection attack patterns targeting these specific parameters

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure real-time alerting for database errors generated by the matrimony CMS application
• Monitor for data exfiltration patterns such as unusually large query result sets or repeated requests to profile endpoints
• Track authentication and authorization failures that may indicate attackers testing extracted credentials
• Review database audit logs for unauthorized access to sensitive tables containing user personal information

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25635

Immediate Actions Required

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to filter SQL injection attempts targeting the profile_list endpoint
• Restrict public access to the vulnerable endpoint if not required for normal operations
• Review database accounts used by the application and enforce least-privilege access principles
• Back up sensitive database content and monitor for signs of data exfiltration

Patch Information

Contact Zeeways directly for security patches or updated versions of the Matrimony CMS. Review the Zeeways Matrimony CMS Product Detail page for vendor information. Until a patch is available, implement the workarounds listed below to reduce exposure.

Workarounds

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall configured to block SQL injection patterns in requests to vulnerable parameters
• Implement input validation at the application or reverse proxy level to sanitize the up_cast, s_mother, and s_religion parameters
• Use database user accounts with read-only permissions where possible to limit the impact of successful exploitation
• Consider placing the vulnerable endpoint behind authentication if business requirements permit

# Example WAF rule to block SQL injection in profile_list parameters
# For ModSecurity-based WAF configurations
SecRule ARGS:up_cast|ARGS:s_mother|ARGS:s_religion "@detectSQLi" \
  "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'SQL Injection attempt blocked in profile_list'"