CVE-2026-25236: Pear Pearweb SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2026-25236 Overview

PEAR is a framework and distribution system for reusable PHP components. Prior to version 1.33.0, a SQL injection risk exists in karma queries due to unsafe literal substitution for an IN (...) list. This vulnerability allows attackers to potentially manipulate database queries through malicious input, affecting the integrity of the application's data operations.

Critical Impact

SQL injection vulnerability in PEAR PearWeb enables attackers to manipulate database queries through unsafe literal substitution in karma queries, potentially compromising data integrity.

Affected Products

• PEAR PearWeb versions prior to 1.33.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-03 - CVE CVE-2026-25236 published to NVD
• 2026-02-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-25236

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability (CWE-89: SQL Injection) stems from improper handling of user-supplied input when constructing SQL queries for karma-related operations in PEAR PearWeb. The application performs unsafe literal substitution when building IN (...) list clauses, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code that executes within the context of the database.

SQL injection vulnerabilities of this nature can enable unauthorized data access, modification of database contents, and in severe cases, complete compromise of the underlying database system. The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the unsafe construction of SQL queries using string concatenation or literal substitution rather than parameterized queries. When building IN (...) list clauses for karma queries, the application directly interpolates user-controlled values into the SQL statement without proper sanitization or the use of prepared statements.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network by sending specially crafted requests containing malicious SQL fragments. An attacker can inject SQL commands through input fields that are processed by the karma query functionality. Since the IN (...) list construction does not properly escape or parameterize values, injected SQL code becomes part of the executed query.

The attack does not require authentication and can be executed with low complexity. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to read, modify, or delete data in the database, depending on the database permissions configured for the application.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-25236

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages in application logs indicating syntax errors or injection attempts
• Unexpected database query patterns, particularly those involving karma-related tables
• Access logs showing requests with suspicious characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or SQL keywords in parameters
• Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized database modifications

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in incoming requests
• Monitor application logs for SQL syntax errors that may indicate injection attempts
• Deploy database activity monitoring to identify anomalous query patterns
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for database queries to capture potential injection attempts
• Set up alerts for failed SQL query executions that contain suspicious strings
• Monitor for unusual data access patterns in karma-related database tables
• Implement real-time monitoring of web application traffic for SQL injection payloads

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-25236

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade PEAR PearWeb to version 1.33.0 or later immediately
• Review and audit all karma-related query functionality for additional SQL injection vulnerabilities
• Implement input validation and sanitization as an additional defense layer
• Consider temporarily restricting access to affected functionality if immediate patching is not possible

Patch Information

This vulnerability has been patched in PEAR PearWeb version 1.33.0. The fix addresses the unsafe literal substitution issue in karma queries by implementing proper parameterized queries. Organizations should upgrade to this version or later to remediate the vulnerability. For more details, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory.

Workarounds

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules as a temporary mitigation
• Implement strict input validation at the application layer to reject potentially malicious input
• Restrict network access to the affected application to trusted sources only
• Monitor database activity closely for signs of exploitation until patching can be completed

# Verify PEAR PearWeb version after upgrade
php -r "echo PEAR_VERSION;"

# Check that version is 1.33.0 or higher
# If using Composer, verify with:
composer show pear/pearweb | grep version