CVE-2026-11510 Overview
CVE-2026-11510 is a SQL injection vulnerability in CodeAstro Leave Management System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /admin/add_leave.php script, where the type_of_leave parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. An authenticated attacker can manipulate this argument to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The issue is classified under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output). The exploit has been disclosed publicly, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic abuse against exposed instances.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low-privilege access can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the backend database, exposing leave records, user data, and administrative content.
Affected Products
- CodeAstro Leave Management System 1.0
- Component: /admin/add_leave.php
- Vulnerable parameter: type_of_leave
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-08 - CVE-2026-11510 published to NVD
- 2026-06-08 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-11510
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the administrative leave-creation workflow of CodeAstro Leave Management System 1.0. The application accepts user-controlled input through the type_of_leave HTTP parameter submitted to /admin/add_leave.php. This value is concatenated directly into a SQL statement without parameterization or input validation. As a result, a low-privilege authenticated attacker can break out of the original query context and append arbitrary clauses, including UNION SELECT statements, time-based payloads, or data-modifying commands. The vulnerability falls under CWE-74, the broader injection weakness category.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of prepared statements and the lack of input sanitization on the type_of_leave parameter. Developer-supplied logic builds the SQL query by string concatenation, allowing attacker-controlled metacharacters such as single quotes and SQL keywords to alter query semantics. No allowlist validation, type enforcement, or escaping routines are applied before the value reaches the database driver.
Attack Vector
The attack is remote over the network and requires low-privilege authentication to reach the admin endpoint. An attacker submits a crafted POST or GET request to /admin/add_leave.php with a malicious type_of_leave value. Publicly available proof-of-concept material referenced in the GitHub CVE Issue Discussion and VulDB Vulnerability #369130 describes the injection pattern. Successful exploitation can leak sensitive employee and HR data or enable lateral persistence inside the application database.
No verified exploit code is reproduced here. See the VulDB CVE-2026-11510 entry for technical analysis of the injection payload.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-11510
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected HTTP requests to /admin/add_leave.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, or SLEEP( in the type_of_leave parameter.
- Database error messages or 500 responses returned from add_leave.php correlated with malformed input.
- Anomalous outbound database query patterns originating from the web application user account.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for type_of_leave values containing SQL syntax, encoded quotes (%27), or boolean operators.
- Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule that flags SQL keywords submitted to administrative PHP endpoints.
- Correlate authentication events for admin accounts with subsequent abnormal query volume against the leave management database.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable database query logging and alert on unexpected UNION, INFORMATION_SCHEMA, or time-delay function calls.
- Monitor request rates and payload sizes targeting /admin/add_leave.php to identify automated exploitation attempts.
- Track failed and successful admin logins followed by atypical access to leave-management resources.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-11510
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the /admin/ directory using IP allowlisting or VPN-only access until a vendor patch is available.
- Rotate credentials for any administrative accounts that may have been used to probe the endpoint.
- Review database audit logs for unauthorized data access or modification originating from the application service account.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no official vendor patch has been listed in the CodeAstro Security Resource. Administrators should monitor vendor channels and the VulDB CVE-2026-11510 entry for remediation updates. Until a fix is released, treat the application as exposed and apply compensating controls.
Workarounds
- Place the application behind a WAF with signatures tuned to block SQL injection payloads targeting the type_of_leave parameter.
- Apply least-privilege permissions to the database user account used by the application, removing rights to schema metadata and write access where feasible.
- If source code modification is permitted, replace string concatenation in /admin/add_leave.php with parameterized queries using PDO or mysqli prepared statements.
- Disable or remove unused administrative functionality until the vendor publishes a fixed release.
# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) to block SQL metacharacters in type_of_leave
SecRule ARGS:type_of_leave "@rx (?i)(\bunion\b|\bselect\b|--|\bsleep\(|\bor\b\s+1=1)" \
"id:1026115101,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'CVE-2026-11510 SQLi attempt on add_leave.php'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
