CVE-2019-25700: Marmotech Kados SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2019-25700 Overview

Kados R10 GreenBee contains an SQL injection vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting SQL code through the sort_direction parameter. Attackers can submit malicious SQL statements in the sort_direction parameter to extract sensitive database information or modify data. This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation allows unauthenticated remote attackers to extract sensitive database contents, modify data, and potentially compromise the underlying database server through SQL injection attacks.

Affected Products

• Marmotech Kados R10 GreenBee
• cpe:2.3:a:marmotech:kados:r10_greenbee:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-05 - CVE-2019-25700 published to NVD
• 2026-04-07 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25700

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability exists in the Kados R10 GreenBee application due to improper input validation of the sort_direction parameter. The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands. The vulnerability is network-accessible, requiring no authentication or user interaction to exploit.

The attack allows for high confidentiality impact, enabling extraction of sensitive database information. Additionally, there is a low integrity impact, meaning attackers may be able to modify some data within the database. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can lead to complete database compromise, including access to user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data stored within the system.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the Kados R10 GreenBee application. When processing the sort_direction parameter, the application directly concatenates user input into SQL queries without proper sanitization or the use of prepared statements. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query structure and inject malicious SQL code.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploited over the network by sending specially crafted HTTP requests containing malicious SQL payloads in the sort_direction parameter. The attack requires no prior authentication and no user interaction, making it highly accessible to potential attackers. An attacker can manipulate the parameter value to include SQL syntax that alters the query logic, extracts data from other tables, or performs unauthorized database operations.

The sort_direction parameter, typically expected to contain values like ASC or DESC, is not properly validated, allowing injection of additional SQL clauses such as UNION SELECT statements to exfiltrate data or boolean-based techniques to enumerate database contents. For technical details and proof-of-concept examples, refer to the Exploit-DB #46505 entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25700

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL syntax or special characters (e.g., ', --, UNION, SELECT) appearing in HTTP request parameters, particularly in the sort_direction field
• Database error messages exposed in application responses indicating SQL syntax errors
• Unexpected database queries or access patterns in database logs
• Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized data access in audit logs

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests
• Monitor application logs for requests containing SQL keywords in unexpected parameters
• Deploy database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns or unauthorized data access
• Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with SQL injection signature rules

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all HTTP requests to the Kados application, including full parameter values
• Configure database query logging to capture and analyze all executed statements
• Set up alerts for database errors that may indicate injection attempts
• Monitor for unusual data access patterns or large data exports from the database

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25700

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the Kados R10 GreenBee application to trusted IP addresses only
• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules
• Review database permissions and apply the principle of least privilege to application database accounts
• Consider taking the affected application offline until a patch is available or input validation can be implemented

Patch Information

Check the SourceForge Project Kados page and Kados Official Website for security updates or newer versions that address this vulnerability. Review the VulnCheck SQL Injection Advisory for additional vendor guidance.

Workarounds

• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF that filters SQL injection patterns from the sort_direction parameter
• Implement application-level input validation to whitelist only ASC and DESC values for the sort_direction parameter
• Use network segmentation to limit database server exposure
• Restrict database account privileges to prevent modification of sensitive data

# Example WAF rule configuration (ModSecurity)
# Block SQL injection attempts in sort_direction parameter
SecRule ARGS:sort_direction "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in sort_direction parameter',\
    log,\
    auditlog"