CVE-2025-23176: SQL Injection Vulnerability Explained

CVE-2025-23176 Overview

CVE-2025-23176 is a SQL injection vulnerability classified under [CWE-89]: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with low privileges to inject arbitrary SQL statements through unsanitized input parameters. Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying database. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without user interaction.

Critical Impact
Attackers with low-privileged network access can execute arbitrary SQL queries, exfiltrate database contents, modify records, and disrupt database operations.

Affected Products

Product details were not disclosed in the public advisory
Refer to the Israeli Government CVE Advisories for vendor-specific information
Organizations should consult vendor communications for affected version ranges

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-22 - CVE-2025-23176 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-23176

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2025-23176 stems from improper neutralization of special characters in SQL commands. The affected application passes user-supplied input directly into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. Attackers craft input containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, semicolons, and comment markers to break out of the intended query context.

Once injected, the malicious SQL executes with the privileges of the application's database account. This typically grants read and write access to application data, and in some deployments enables access to administrative tables or stored procedures. The attack requires authentication but only low-privileged credentials, which lowers the barrier for insider threats and account-compromise scenarios.

Root Cause

The root cause is the concatenation of untrusted input into SQL statements instead of using parameterized queries or prepared statements. Input validation routines fail to filter or escape SQL control characters before the query reaches the database engine.

Attack Vector

The attack is delivered over the network against an authenticated endpoint. An attacker sends a crafted request containing SQL payloads in parameters that the application incorporates into a database query. The vulnerability requires no user interaction beyond the attacker's own authenticated session.

A typical exploitation pattern involves appending SQL clauses such as UNION SELECT statements to enumerate schema contents, or boolean-based blind injection to extract data one bit at a time when responses do not directly return query results. Time-based techniques using database sleep functions can also confirm exploitability when errors are suppressed.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-23176

Indicators of Compromise

Web server or application logs containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, ;, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP( in request parameters
Unexpected database errors returned in application responses or logged by the database engine
Anomalous query patterns from application service accounts, including queries against system tables like information_schema
Sudden increases in query response times consistent with time-based blind injection

Detection Strategies

Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that identify SQL injection signatures in HTTP request parameters
Enable database audit logging and alert on queries referencing information_schema, sys.tables, or other metadata objects from application accounts
Correlate authentication events with subsequent anomalous query volume from the same session
Perform static analysis of application source code to identify string concatenation used in query construction

Monitoring Recommendations

Baseline normal query patterns per application account and alert on statistical deviations
Monitor outbound database connections for unexpected data transfer volumes indicating exfiltration
Track failed authentication attempts followed by successful logins from the same source addresses
Aggregate application and database logs in a centralized SIEM for cross-source correlation

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-23176

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the vendor-supplied patch as soon as it is available and validated in a test environment
Restrict database account privileges used by the application to the minimum required for operation
Review authentication logs for unauthorized or suspicious low-privileged account activity
Enable WAF signatures for SQL injection and place vulnerable endpoints behind them

Patch Information

Consult the Israeli Government CVE Advisories and the affected vendor's security portal for patch availability and version guidance. Verify patch installation by testing previously vulnerable input paths with benign injection strings in a staging environment.

Workarounds

Enforce parameterized queries or prepared statements in application code where source access is available
Add input validation allowlists for parameters that accept only numeric or restricted character sets
Disable verbose database error messages in production to reduce information leakage that assists attackers
Segment the database server on a restricted network zone so only the application host can reach it

bash

# Example WAF rule concept for blocking common SQL injection patterns
# Adapt syntax to your WAF platform (ModSecurity shown)
SecRule ARGS "@rx (?i)(union(.*?)select|sleep\(|information_schema|--|;--)" \
    "id:1002375,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'Potential SQL Injection CVE-2025-23176'"