CVE-2026-0546 Overview
CVE-2026-0546 is a SQL injection vulnerability in code-projects Content Management System 1.0. The flaw resides in the search.php file, where the Value parameter is passed into a database query without proper sanitization. Remote attackers can manipulate this argument to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic abuse against exposed instances. The issue is tracked under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command) and CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).
Critical Impact
Remote, unauthenticated attackers can inject SQL through the Value parameter in search.php, potentially exposing or modifying database contents.
Affected Products
- code-projects Content Management System 1.0
- Component: search.php
- Vulnerable parameter: Value
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-01-02 - CVE-2026-0546 published to NVD
- 2026-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-0546
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the search.php script of code-projects Content Management System 1.0. The application accepts the Value request parameter and concatenates it directly into an SQL query string. No parameterized statements, prepared queries, or input validation routines neutralize special SQL characters before execution. Attackers can therefore append UNION, OR, or comment sequences to alter query logic. Because the attack vector is the network and no authentication is required, exploitation can be automated against internet-facing deployments. The disclosed proof of concept lowers the skill barrier for exploitation by less sophisticated actors.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of user-supplied input prior to inclusion in an SQL statement, classified as [CWE-89]. The developer relied on direct string concatenation between the HTTP request parameter and the SQL query passed to the database driver. No allow-list validation, type coercion, or prepared-statement binding constrains the Value argument. This pattern is consistent across vulnerable installations of the application.
Attack Vector
An unauthenticated remote attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to the search.php endpoint with a malicious Value parameter. The injected SQL executes within the application's database context. Depending on database privileges, the attacker can read arbitrary tables, modify records, or in some configurations escalate to remote command execution through database features. Public disclosure of the exploit method on GitHub and VulDB entry #339338 provides exploitation details.
No verified exploit code is reproduced here. Refer to the public disclosure references for technical proof-of-concept details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-0546
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP GET or POST requests to /search.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, or SLEEP( in the Value parameter.
- Unexpected database error messages returned in HTTP responses from the search.php endpoint.
- Sudden spikes in slow or long-running queries originating from the CMS database user.
- Web server access logs showing repeated search.php requests from a single source with varying Value payloads.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule set targeting SQL injection signatures on the Value query parameter.
- Enable database query logging and alert on queries originating from search.php that contain stacked statements or UNION clauses.
- Correlate web access logs with database audit logs to identify anomalous record access following suspicious HTTP requests.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor outbound network traffic from the database server for unusual data egress that could indicate exfiltration.
- Track HTTP 500 responses on search.php as they often precede successful SQL injection tuning.
- Review authentication logs for new or unexpected administrator accounts created in the CMS database.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-0546
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict public access to the affected search.php endpoint using network ACLs or authentication proxies until a patch is applied.
- Deploy WAF rules that block SQL metacharacters in the Value parameter.
- Audit the application database for unauthorized data access or modification.
- Rotate database credentials used by the CMS if compromise is suspected.
Patch Information
No vendor advisory or official patch from code-projects has been published at the time of writing. Administrators should consult the code-projects website and the VulDB entry #339338 for updates. Where no fix is available, replace direct concatenation in search.php with parameterized queries using PDO prepared statements or mysqli_prepare.
Workarounds
- Modify search.php to validate the Value parameter against an allow-list of expected characters before query construction.
- Refactor database access to use prepared statements with bound parameters.
- Apply the principle of least privilege to the database account used by the CMS, removing FILE, DROP, and administrative privileges.
- Disable verbose database error reporting in production to reduce information leakage that aids exploitation.
# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) to block common SQLi patterns on the Value parameter
SecRule ARGS:Value "@rx (?i)(union(\s)+select|or\s+1=1|sleep\(|--|;)" \
"id:1002026,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'CVE-2026-0546 SQLi attempt on search.php Value parameter'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
