CVE-2026-1422 Overview
A SQL Injection vulnerability has been identified in the code-projects Online Examination System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the Login Page component (/index.php), where improper handling of the User argument allows attackers to inject malicious SQL statements. This flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate database queries, potentially bypassing authentication, extracting sensitive data, or compromising the underlying database server.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to bypass authentication, access unauthorized data, and potentially take control of the database server without requiring any authentication credentials.
Affected Products
- Fabian Online Examination System 1.0
- code-projects Online Examination System /index.php Login Page component
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-01-26 - CVE-2026-1422 published to NVD
- 2026-01-28 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-1422
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is a classic SQL Injection flaw (CWE-89) stemming from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The Login Page at /index.php accepts user input through the User argument without adequate input sanitization or parameterized queries. When user-supplied data is concatenated directly into SQL queries, attackers can modify the query logic by injecting SQL syntax.
The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. The attack complexity is low, making it accessible to attackers with basic SQL injection knowledge. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, and potential denial of service to the application.
Root Cause
The root cause is a failure to implement proper input validation and parameterized queries (prepared statements) in the authentication logic. The application directly incorporates user-supplied input from the login form into SQL queries, allowing special SQL characters and commands to be interpreted by the database engine rather than treated as literal data.
This falls under both 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).
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based, targeting the /index.php Login Page endpoint. An attacker can craft malicious input containing SQL syntax in the User parameter field. When the application processes this input, the injected SQL commands execute against the database, allowing the attacker to:
- Bypass authentication by manipulating login queries to return true
- Extract sensitive information from database tables using UNION-based or error-based injection
- Modify or delete database records
- Potentially execute operating system commands if database permissions allow
The vulnerability details and exploitation methodology have been publicly documented in the GitHub SQL Injection Discovery repository.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-1422
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual login attempts containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes ('), double dashes (--), semicolons (;), or OR 1=1 patterns in the User field
- Database error messages appearing in application logs indicating malformed SQL queries
- Unexpected successful authentication events from unknown IP addresses
- Database query logs showing injected SQL statements or UNION SELECT queries
Detection Strategies
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests to /index.php
- Enable detailed logging on the database server to capture and alert on suspicious query patterns
- Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection attack patterns
- Monitor authentication logs for anomalous login success patterns, especially from single IP addresses with multiple account accesses
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure real-time alerting for database errors related to SQL syntax in application logs
- Establish baseline metrics for login attempts and alert on statistical anomalies
- Implement honeypot database fields to detect data exfiltration attempts
- Review web server access logs for requests to /index.php containing URL-encoded SQL injection payloads
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-1422
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the Online Examination System to trusted IP ranges only
- Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules immediately
- Disable or add additional authentication layer to the affected Login Page if possible
- Review database logs for evidence of prior exploitation
Patch Information
No official patch information is currently available from the vendor. Administrators should monitor the Code Projects Resource for security updates. Additional technical details and vulnerability tracking information is available at VulDB #342838.
Organizations using this software should consider implementing the workarounds below until an official fix is released.
Workarounds
- Implement prepared statements (parameterized queries) in the PHP code handling the login functionality to prevent SQL injection
- Add server-side input validation to sanitize the User parameter, rejecting or escaping SQL special characters
- Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF configured to filter malicious SQL injection patterns before they reach the application
- Consider replacing the vulnerable login component with a secure authentication library that properly handles user input
# Example WAF rule for ModSecurity to block SQL injection attempts
SecRule ARGS:User "@detectSQLi" \
"id:100001,\
phase:2,\
block,\
msg:'SQL Injection Attempt Detected in User Parameter',\
logdata:'Matched Data: %{MATCHED_VAR}',\
severity:'CRITICAL'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
