CVE-2026-2197 Overview
A SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in code-projects Online Reviewer System 1.0. The vulnerability affects an unknown function within the file /system/system/admins/assessments/pretest/exam-delete.php. Through manipulation of the test_id argument, an attacker can perform SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability is remotely exploitable, and the exploit has been publicly disclosed.
Critical Impact
This SQL injection vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to manipulate database queries, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data modification, or data deletion within the Online Reviewer System.
Affected Products
- Fabian Online Reviewer System 1.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-09 - CVE-2026-2197 published to NVD
- 2026-02-10 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-2197
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as SQL Injection (CWE-89) with a secondary classification of Injection (CWE-74). The flaw exists in the exam-delete.php file, which handles pretest assessment deletion functionality within the administrative interface. The test_id parameter is passed directly to database queries without proper sanitization or parameterized query implementation, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL statements.
The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without authentication, as the application fails to validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This represents a classic SQL injection attack vector where user input is concatenated directly into SQL statements rather than being properly escaped or parameterized.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and the lack of parameterized queries in the exam-delete.php file. The test_id parameter is directly incorporated into database queries without sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL code. This represents a fundamental secure coding oversight where user-controlled input is trusted without validation.
Attack Vector
The attack is conducted remotely over the network. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests to the vulnerable endpoint at /system/system/admins/assessments/pretest/exam-delete.php, including SQL injection payloads within the test_id parameter. Since no authentication appears to be required to exploit this vulnerability, it significantly lowers the barrier to attack.
The vulnerability allows attackers to potentially:
- Extract sensitive data from the database
- Modify or delete database records
- Bypass authentication mechanisms
- Potentially escalate to remote code execution depending on database configuration
Technical details and proof-of-concept information can be found in the GitHub Issue on CVE and VulDB #344900.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-2197
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual SQL error messages in application logs from the exam-delete.php endpoint
- Web access logs showing requests to /system/system/admins/assessments/pretest/exam-delete.php with suspicious test_id values containing SQL syntax characters (single quotes, double dashes, UNION keywords)
- Database query logs showing unexpected or malformed queries originating from the assessment deletion functionality
- Failed login attempts followed by successful authentication without proper credentials
Detection Strategies
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in requests to the affected endpoint
- Configure intrusion detection systems to alert on common SQL injection signatures in HTTP traffic
- Enable detailed logging on the database server to capture and analyze suspicious query patterns
- Monitor for database errors or exceptions that may indicate injection attempts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Set up real-time alerting for any requests containing SQL injection payloads targeting the exam-delete.php file
- Implement database activity monitoring to detect unauthorized data access or modification
- Review web server logs regularly for patterns consistent with automated SQL injection scanning tools
- Monitor for unusual database user privilege escalation or new user creation
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-2197
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the /system/system/admins/assessments/pretest/exam-delete.php endpoint until a patch is available
- Implement input validation on the test_id parameter to accept only numeric values
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules
- Consider taking the affected application offline if it contains sensitive data and cannot be adequately protected
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been released at this time. Monitor the Code Projects Resource page for security updates. Organizations using this software should consider implementing the workarounds below until an official fix is available.
Workarounds
- Use prepared statements or parameterized queries when modifying the source code to fix the vulnerability
- Implement strict input validation to ensure test_id only accepts integer values
- Apply network-level access controls to restrict access to the administrative interface from trusted IP addresses only
- Consider using a reverse proxy with SQL injection filtering capabilities to protect the vulnerable endpoint
# Example .htaccess configuration to restrict access to the vulnerable endpoint
<Files "exam-delete.php">
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
</Files>
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
