CVE-2022-50895: Aero CMS 0.0.1 SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2022-50895 Overview

Aero CMS 0.0.1 contains a SQL injection vulnerability in the author parameter that allows attackers to manipulate database queries. Attackers can exploit boolean-based, error-based, time-based, and UNION query techniques to extract sensitive database information and potentially compromise the system.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL injection flaw via the network to extract sensitive database contents, including user credentials, session tokens, and potentially gain full control of the underlying database server.

Affected Products

• Aero CMS version 0.0.1

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-13 - CVE-2022-50895 published to NVD
• 2026-01-13 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-50895

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the author parameter of Aero CMS version 0.0.1. The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL commands. The vulnerability is accessible over the network without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for internet-facing installations.

The flaw enables multiple exploitation techniques including boolean-based blind injection, error-based extraction, time-based blind attacks, and UNION query injection. Each technique provides different advantages for data exfiltration depending on the application's response behavior and database configuration.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and the absence of parameterized queries (prepared statements) when handling the author parameter. User-controlled input is directly concatenated into SQL query strings without sanitization, escaping, or use of parameterized queries. This classic SQL injection pattern allows attackers to break out of the intended query structure and execute arbitrary SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing SQL injection payloads in the author parameter. The attack requires no authentication or user interaction, making it highly exploitable. Successful exploitation allows attackers to read arbitrary database content, modify or delete data, and in some configurations, execute operating system commands through database functions like xp_cmdshell (SQL Server) or LOAD_FILE/INTO OUTFILE (MySQL).

The vulnerability can be exploited using common SQL injection techniques. For detailed proof-of-concept examples, refer to the GitHub PoC Repository and Exploit-DB #51022.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-50895

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database query patterns containing SQL syntax keywords in the author parameter (e.g., UNION, SELECT, OR 1=1, SLEEP(), BENCHMARK())
• Database error messages exposed in HTTP responses indicating malformed SQL queries
• Anomalous time delays in HTTP responses suggesting time-based blind SQL injection attempts
• Unexpected database query execution logs showing unauthorized data access or schema enumeration

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns in HTTP request parameters
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns, failed login attempts, or access to sensitive tables
• Enable verbose logging on web servers and database servers to capture injection attempts
• Use SentinelOne Singularity XDR to correlate endpoint, network, and application-level indicators of SQL injection exploitation

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor web server logs for requests containing SQL injection payloads in the author parameter
• Set up alerts for database errors indicating injection attempts (e.g., syntax errors, unexpected query structures)
• Implement real-time alerting for unusual database access patterns or data exfiltration indicators
• Review application logs for repeated requests from the same source targeting the vulnerable parameter

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-50895

Immediate Actions Required

• Remove or disable Aero CMS 0.0.1 installations until a patched version is available
• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules in front of vulnerable applications
• Restrict network access to the application to trusted IP addresses only
• Conduct a forensic review of database logs to identify any potential exploitation or data exfiltration

Patch Information

No official vendor patch is currently available for this vulnerability. The project appears to be unmaintained based on the archived status of the original GitHub repository. Organizations should consider migrating to an actively maintained CMS platform.

For additional vulnerability details, refer to the VulnCheck Security Advisory.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation and parameterized queries at the application layer if source code modifications are possible
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF to filter and sanitize incoming requests containing potentially malicious SQL syntax
• Use database user accounts with minimal privileges (principle of least privilege) to limit the impact of successful exploitation
• Consider migrating to an actively maintained CMS solution with proper security support

If implementing custom input validation, ensure all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized before use in database queries. Use prepared statements with parameterized queries as the primary defense mechanism.