CVE-2026-13498 Overview
CVE-2026-13498 is a SQL injection vulnerability in the yashpokharna2555 restaurent-management-system open-source PHP application. The flaw resides in the /forgotpassword.php script, where the email POST parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. An unauthenticated remote attacker can inject arbitrary SQL statements by manipulating this parameter.
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output). A public exploit disclosure exists, and the project has not responded to the initial issue report. Because the product does not use versioning, all deployments should be considered affected.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the backend database through the password reset form, potentially exposing credentials and application data.
Affected Products
- yashpokharna2555 restaurent-management-system (unversioned, all deployments)
- Component: /forgotpassword.php POST parameter handler
- Vulnerable parameter: email
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-28 - CVE-2026-13498 published to NVD
- 2026-06-30 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-13498
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the password recovery workflow of the restaurent-management-system PHP application. The /forgotpassword.php endpoint accepts a user-supplied email value via HTTP POST and concatenates it directly into a SQL statement executed against the backend database.
Because the input is neither parameterized nor escaped, an attacker can break out of the intended string context and append arbitrary SQL clauses. This allows conditional data extraction, boolean-based enumeration, and potentially UNION-based exfiltration of tables such as user credentials.
The attack requires no authentication, no user interaction, and can be performed remotely over the network. The EPSS probability is 0.269% (percentile 18.472) as of 2026-07-02.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements passed into a downstream SQL component [CWE-74]. The application constructs SQL queries using string concatenation with untrusted POST input rather than using prepared statements with bound parameters. Standard mitigations such as PDO parameterized queries or mysqli_real_escape_string are absent from the affected code path.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based. An attacker submits a crafted HTTP POST request to /forgotpassword.php with a malicious email field containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, comments, and UNION statements. The pre-authentication nature of the password reset form makes exploitation trivial from any internet-reachable deployment.
Refer to the VulDB Vulnerability Report and the GitHub Issue Tracker for additional technical context. No verified proof-of-concept code has been published in the referenced advisories.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-13498
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP POST requests to /forgotpassword.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP( in the email parameter.
- Unusual database error messages logged from the forgot-password code path.
- Repeated failed password reset attempts from a single source IP with varying email payloads.
- Outbound traffic anomalies or data volume spikes originating from the web application host after suspicious POST activity.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy WAF rules that inspect POST bodies to /forgotpassword.php and block SQL syntax patterns in the email field.
- Enable database query logging and alert on queries that deviate from the expected parameter shape for the forgot-password workflow.
- Correlate web access logs with database error logs to surface time-based or boolean-based blind injection attempts.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor web server access logs for high-frequency POST requests to /forgotpassword.php from single sources.
- Baseline normal email parameter lengths and character sets, then alert on statistical outliers.
- Track database process CPU and query duration for signatures consistent with time-based blind SQL injection.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-13498
Immediate Actions Required
- Take the affected application offline or restrict /forgotpassword.php access via network controls until a fix is applied.
- Audit database accounts used by the application and reduce privileges to the minimum required for its function.
- Rotate any credentials, session tokens, or API keys stored in the application database that may have been exposed.
- Review web server and database logs for exploitation attempts referencing the email POST parameter.
Patch Information
No official patch has been released. According to the advisory, the project maintainer was informed through an issue report but has not responded. Consumers of this codebase must apply source-level fixes: replace string-concatenated SQL with prepared statements using PDO or mysqli bound parameters, and validate the email input against a strict format before use.
Track the upstream GitHub Repository and GitHub Issue Tracker for a maintainer response.
Workarounds
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that blocks SQL metacharacters in the email POST parameter for /forgotpassword.php.
- Apply a source-level fix that migrates the affected query to a prepared statement with bound parameters.
- Enforce strict server-side email format validation using a regular expression before the value reaches the database layer.
- Restrict database user permissions so that the application account cannot read sensitive tables outside its intended scope.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
