CVE-2025-52044: Frappe ERPNext SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2025-52044 Overview

A SQL Injection vulnerability has been identified in Frappe ERPNext v15.57.5. The vulnerability exists in the get_stock_balance() function located at erpnext/stock/utils.py, which fails to properly sanitize the inventory_dimensions_dict parameter. This security flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious SQL queries and extract sensitive information from the underlying database.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to extract all information from databases, potentially compromising sensitive business data, customer information, financial records, and other confidential data stored in ERPNext installations.

Affected Products

• Frappe ERPNext v15.57.5
• Applications using the vulnerable get_stock_balance() function in erpnext/stock/utils.py
• ERPNext deployments with network-accessible inventory management endpoints

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-09-16 - CVE CVE-2025-52044 published to NVD
• 2025-09-20 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-52044

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) stems from insufficient input validation in the get_stock_balance() function within ERPNext's stock utilities module. The function accepts an inventory_dimensions_dict parameter that is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. This allows attackers to craft malicious input that modifies the intended SQL query structure, enabling unauthorized database access.

The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation grants attackers the ability to read confidential data from the database, though the integrity of the data and system availability remain unaffected according to the vulnerability assessment.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The inventory_dimensions_dict parameter in the get_stock_balance() function is not properly validated or escaped before being used in database queries. This violates secure coding practices for database interactions, where all user-supplied input should be treated as untrusted and properly sanitized using parameterized queries or prepared statements.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2025-52044 is network-based, requiring no privileges or user interaction. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted HTTP requests to the ERPNext application with malicious SQL payloads embedded in the inventory_dimensions_dict parameter.

The exploitation process involves manipulating the parameter value to include SQL metacharacters and injection payloads that alter the query logic. This allows attackers to perform various SQL injection techniques such as UNION-based injection, boolean-based blind injection, or time-based blind injection to extract database contents.

For detailed technical analysis and proof-of-concept information, refer to the Vietsunshine Vulnerability Disclosure.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-52044

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed requests to ERPNext inventory management endpoints containing SQL syntax
• Database query logs showing unexpected UNION, SELECT, or other SQL keywords in parameter values
• Abnormal database access patterns or queries retrieving large amounts of data from unexpected tables
• Web application logs containing requests with encoded SQL injection payloads in the inventory_dimensions_dict parameter

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in incoming requests
• Enable detailed logging for the ERPNext application and monitor for suspicious query patterns
• Deploy database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query execution or unauthorized data access
• Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor ERPNext application logs for requests containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, double dashes, or UNION keywords
• Set up alerts for database queries originating from the get_stock_balance() function that contain unexpected SQL syntax
• Track failed authentication attempts and unusual data access patterns that may indicate reconnaissance or exploitation attempts
• Review database audit logs regularly for evidence of unauthorized data extraction

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-52044

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the security patch provided by Frappe as soon as possible
• Implement network-level access controls to restrict access to ERPNext installations from untrusted networks
• Deploy or update WAF rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoint
• Review database access logs for evidence of exploitation and investigate any suspicious activity

Patch Information

Frappe has released a security patch to address this vulnerability. The fix is available in GitHub Pull Request #49192, which implements proper input sanitization for the inventory_dimensions_dict parameter. Organizations running ERPNext v15.57.5 should update to a patched version immediately.

The patch commit hash is eb22794f14351c2ff5731548c48bef0b91765c86.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to ERPNext installations using firewall rules to allow only trusted IP addresses
• Implement application-level input validation to reject requests containing SQL metacharacters before they reach the vulnerable function
• Deploy a reverse proxy with SQL injection filtering capabilities in front of the ERPNext application
• Consider temporarily disabling or restricting access to inventory-related functionality until the patch can be applied

# Example: Restrict access to ERPNext using iptables
# Allow only trusted networks to access ERPNext
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8000 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8000 -j DROP