CVE-2019-25688: Marmotech Kados SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2019-25688 Overview

CVE-2019-25688 is a SQL injection vulnerability discovered in Marmotech Kados R10 GreenBee that allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the menu_lev1 parameter. This vulnerability enables attackers to send crafted HTTP requests containing SQL payloads to extract sensitive database information or modify database contents without any authentication requirements.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data from the database, modify or delete records, and potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying system.

Affected Products

• Marmotech Kados R10 GreenBee

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-05 - CVE-2019-25688 published to NVD
• 2026-04-07 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25688

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the Kados R10 GreenBee application's handling of the menu_lev1 parameter. The application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands. The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means remote attackers can exploit it without requiring any prior authentication or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for internet-facing deployments.

The vulnerability allows attackers to achieve high confidentiality impact by extracting sensitive data stored in the database, including user credentials, application data, and potentially personally identifiable information. Additionally, attackers can achieve some level of integrity impact by modifying database records.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and insufficient sanitization of the menu_lev1 parameter before it is used in database queries. The application directly incorporates user-controlled input into SQL statements without using parameterized queries or prepared statements, creating a classic SQL injection attack surface.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network through HTTP requests to the affected Kados R10 GreenBee application. An attacker can craft malicious requests containing SQL injection payloads in the menu_lev1 parameter. The attack requires no authentication and no user interaction, allowing fully automated exploitation.

Typical SQL injection techniques such as UNION-based injection, boolean-based blind injection, and time-based blind injection can be employed to enumerate database structure, extract data, and potentially execute administrative operations depending on the database configuration and privileges.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25688

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages appearing in application logs or responses indicating query manipulation
• HTTP requests containing suspicious SQL keywords (UNION, SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, OR, AND) within the menu_lev1 parameter
• Database queries with unexpected execution times suggesting time-based blind SQL injection attempts
• Anomalous database activity such as bulk data extraction or unauthorized modifications

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with rules specifically targeting SQL injection patterns in HTTP parameters
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns and unauthorized data access
• Enable detailed application logging to capture all requests to endpoints accepting the menu_lev1 parameter
• Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor application logs for SQL syntax errors or database exceptions that may indicate injection attempts
• Set up alerts for high volumes of requests to affected endpoints from single IP addresses
• Track database query execution times to identify potential time-based blind injection attacks
• Review database audit logs for unauthorized data access patterns or privilege escalation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25688

Immediate Actions Required

• Implement input validation and sanitization for the menu_lev1 parameter and all other user-controlled inputs
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules as an immediate defensive layer
• Review database user permissions and apply the principle of least privilege to limit potential damage from successful exploitation
• Consider temporarily disabling or restricting access to the affected functionality until a patch is applied

Patch Information

Organizations using Marmotech Kados R10 GreenBee should consult the SourceForge Project Kados page or the Kados Official Website for the latest security updates and patch availability. The VulnCheck Advisory provides additional technical details about this vulnerability. Additional information about the vulnerability is available in the Exploit-DB entry #46505.

Workarounds

• Implement parameterized queries or prepared statements at the application level to prevent SQL injection
• Use stored procedures with strict input validation for database operations
• Deploy network-level access controls to restrict who can reach the vulnerable application
• Consider implementing additional authentication requirements for affected functionality as a defense-in-depth measure

# Example WAF rule configuration for ModSecurity
SecRule ARGS:menu_lev1 "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    log,\
    msg:'SQL Injection Attempt Detected in menu_lev1 parameter - CVE-2019-25688'"