CVE-2025-41033: Apprain CMF SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2025-41033 Overview

An SQL injection vulnerability has been discovered in appRain CMF version 4.0.5. This vulnerability allows an attacker to retrieve, create, update, and delete database contents through the data%5BPage%5D%5Bname%5D parameter in the /apprain/page/manage-dynamic-pages/create endpoint. The flaw represents a classic SQL injection attack vector that can lead to complete database compromise.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the entire database, enabling data theft, modification, or complete database destruction through malicious SQL queries injected via the vulnerable parameter.

Affected Products

• appRain CMF 4.0.5

Discovery Timeline

• September 4, 2025 - CVE-2025-41033 published to NVD
• September 4, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-41033

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the dynamic page management functionality of appRain CMF. The vulnerability occurs because user-supplied input in the data%5BPage%5D%5Bname%5D parameter (URL-decoded as data[Page][name]) is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL queries. This allows attackers with network access to inject arbitrary SQL statements that are then executed by the database server.

The attack surface is accessible through the web interface at /apprain/page/manage-dynamic-pages/create, which is part of the content management system's administrative functionality. Successful exploitation requires low-privilege authentication but no user interaction, making it relatively straightforward to execute once an attacker has basic access to the system.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the dynamic page creation functionality. The application fails to sanitize or escape user-supplied data in the data[Page][name] parameter before concatenating it into SQL queries. This absence of proper input sanitization allows malicious SQL code to be interpreted as part of the query structure rather than as data.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring authenticated access to the appRain CMF administrative interface. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests to the /apprain/page/manage-dynamic-pages/create endpoint with SQL injection payloads embedded in the data[Page][name] parameter. The injected SQL can perform various database operations including:

• Data Extraction: Using UNION-based or blind SQL injection techniques to extract sensitive information
• Data Modification: INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE operations to manipulate database records
• Database Enumeration: Discovering database structure, tables, and column names
• Potential Privilege Escalation: Modifying user credentials or permissions within the database

The vulnerability can be exploited by submitting specially crafted form data where the page name field contains SQL metacharacters and commands. For detailed technical information, refer to the INCIBE Security Notice.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-41033

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP POST requests to /apprain/page/manage-dynamic-pages/create containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, INSERT, DROP, or DELETE
• Database error messages in application logs indicating syntax errors or unexpected query behavior
• Unexpected changes to database records, particularly in page-related tables
• Evidence of data exfiltration or bulk data access patterns in database logs

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in the data[Page][name] parameter
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on requests containing common SQL injection signatures targeting the vulnerable endpoint
• Enable detailed logging for all requests to /apprain/page/manage-dynamic-pages/create and establish baseline normal behavior
• Deploy database activity monitoring to detect anomalous queries originating from the CMS application

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor web server access logs for repeated requests to the vulnerable endpoint with varying payloads
• Implement database query logging and alert on queries containing unexpected syntax or structure
• Track failed and successful authentication attempts to the administrative interface
• Set up alerts for any database schema modifications or large-scale data access operations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-41033

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the /apprain/page/manage-dynamic-pages/create endpoint to trusted IP addresses only
• Implement a web application firewall with SQL injection protection rules for the affected parameter
• Consider temporarily disabling the dynamic page creation functionality until a patch is available
• Review and audit existing database content for signs of compromise or unauthorized modifications

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been announced at this time. Organizations should monitor the INCIBE Security Notice and appRain vendor channels for security updates.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation at the application level by filtering or escaping SQL metacharacters in the data[Page][name] parameter
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF rule specifically blocking SQL injection attempts against the vulnerable endpoint
• Restrict administrative access to the CMS using IP whitelisting or VPN requirements
• Consider migrating to an alternative CMS platform if no patch is released in a timely manner

# Example WAF rule configuration (ModSecurity)
SecRule ARGS:data[Page][name] "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    block,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in appRain CMF',\
    logdata:'Matched Data: %{MATCHED_VAR} found within %{MATCHED_VAR_NAME}'"