CVE-2025-5206: Pixelimity SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2025-5206 Overview

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been discovered in Pixelimity 1.0, affecting the Installation component. The vulnerability exists in the /install/index.php file where improper handling of the site_description argument allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely, enabling unauthorized database access and manipulation.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection flaw to compromise the database, potentially leading to data theft, unauthorized modifications, or complete database takeover during the installation process.

Affected Products

Pixelimity 1.0

Discovery Timeline

2025-05-26 - CVE-2025-5206 published to NVD
2025-06-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-5206

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability affects the installation component of Pixelimity 1.0, specifically within the /install/index.php file. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation of the site_description parameter during the application's installation process. Attackers with network access can remotely exploit this flaw by crafting malicious SQL payloads within the site_description input field.

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (SQL Injection) and CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component). The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of active exploitation in the wild.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input sanitization in the installation script. The site_description argument is passed directly to SQL queries without proper parameterization or escaping. This allows attackers to break out of the intended SQL context and inject arbitrary SQL commands that will be executed by the database server.

Installation scripts are particularly sensitive attack surfaces as they often run with elevated privileges and may not have the same security controls as production code. The lack of prepared statements or parameterized queries in the handling of user-supplied installation parameters creates this exploitable condition.

Attack Vector

The attack can be launched remotely over the network. An attacker would target exposed Pixelimity installations that are still in the setup phase or have left the installation directory accessible. By submitting a crafted payload through the site_description field, the attacker can:

Extract sensitive data from the database through UNION-based or error-based SQL injection
Modify existing database records
Create administrative accounts for persistent access
Potentially escalate to command execution depending on database configuration

The vulnerability affects installations where the /install/index.php endpoint remains accessible. Administrators should ensure installation directories are removed or protected after initial setup.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-5206

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual HTTP requests to /install/index.php containing SQL syntax in the site_description parameter
Database query logs showing unexpected UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, or other SQL injection patterns
New or modified database entries that were not created through legitimate application workflows
Suspicious administrative accounts created without authorization

Detection Strategies

Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in form submissions
Monitor access logs for requests targeting /install/index.php from external IP addresses
Implement database activity monitoring to detect anomalous queries or data access patterns
Use SentinelOne Singularity to detect exploitation attempts and post-compromise activity

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging for the web server and database to capture potential attack attempts
Set up alerts for any access to installation scripts in production environments
Monitor for unexpected database schema changes or new user account creation
Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of installation endpoints

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-5206

Immediate Actions Required

Remove or restrict access to the /install/ directory immediately after completing installation
Implement IP-based access controls to limit who can access installation endpoints
Review database logs for signs of exploitation and rotate credentials if compromise is suspected
Apply input validation and parameterized queries if source code modification is possible

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been released at this time. Organizations should monitor the VulDB entry and GitHub Issue Discussion for updates on remediation options from the vendor. In the absence of an official patch, implementing the workarounds below is strongly recommended.

Workarounds

Delete or rename the /install/ directory after completing the installation process to prevent exploitation
Use .htaccess or web server configuration to deny all access to installation scripts
Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection detection rules in front of the application
Restrict database user privileges to limit the impact of successful SQL injection attacks

bash

# Configuration example - Apache .htaccess to block install directory
# Place this file in the /install/ directory

<IfModule mod_authz_core.c>
    Require all denied
</IfModule>

<IfModule !mod_authz_core.c>
    Order deny,allow
    Deny from all
</IfModule>