CVE-2026-25238: Pear Pearweb SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2026-25238 Overview

CVE-2026-25238 is a SQL injection vulnerability affecting PEAR pearweb, a framework and distribution system for reusable PHP components. Prior to version 1.33.0, an attacker can inject malicious SQL code through a crafted email value during bug subscription deletion operations. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate database queries, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.

Critical Impact

This SQL injection vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands without authentication, potentially compromising the entire database backend and all stored data.

Affected Products

• PEAR pearweb versions prior to 1.33.0
• All pearweb installations using vulnerable bug subscription deletion functionality
• Systems running unpatched PEAR framework components

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-03 - CVE-2026-25238 published to NVD
• 2026-02-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-25238

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability exists in the bug subscription deletion functionality of PEAR pearweb. The application fails to properly sanitize or parameterize user-supplied email input before incorporating it into SQL queries. When a user attempts to delete a bug subscription, the email parameter is directly concatenated into the SQL statement without adequate validation, creating a classic SQL injection attack surface.

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command), which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data from the database, modify or delete records, or potentially execute administrative operations on the database server.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and the absence of parameterized queries (prepared statements) in the bug subscription deletion code path. The email parameter submitted by users is incorporated directly into SQL query strings without proper escaping or sanitization. This coding practice violates fundamental secure development principles and opens the application to SQL injection attacks.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and does not require authentication. An attacker can craft a malicious HTTP request containing SQL injection payloads in the email parameter field when interacting with the bug subscription deletion functionality. The crafted email value would contain SQL metacharacters and additional SQL commands that, when processed by the backend database, would execute unintended operations.

The vulnerability can be exploited by submitting specially crafted input through the web interface. For example, an attacker might supply an email value containing SQL syntax such as single quotes, UNION SELECT statements, or conditional logic designed to manipulate query behavior. Since no authentication is required, any remote attacker with network access to the vulnerable pearweb instance can attempt exploitation.

For detailed technical information about the vulnerability mechanism and attack patterns, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-25238

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database query patterns or errors in web server logs related to bug subscription functionality
• HTTP requests containing SQL metacharacters (single quotes, double dashes, UNION keywords) in email parameters
• Unexpected data modifications or deletions in bug subscription tables
• Database error messages exposed in application responses indicating SQL syntax errors

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules targeting the bug subscription endpoints
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns and unauthorized data access attempts
• Configure application logging to capture and alert on malformed email parameter inputs
• Use intrusion detection systems with signatures for common SQL injection patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for all database queries originating from the pearweb application
• Monitor for error spikes in application logs that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Set up alerts for database queries containing suspicious SQL syntax patterns
• Review access logs for repeated requests to bug subscription deletion endpoints with varying email parameters

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-25238

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade PEAR pearweb to version 1.33.0 or later immediately
• If immediate patching is not possible, restrict network access to the pearweb application
• Review database logs for any evidence of prior exploitation attempts
• Implement WAF rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoint

Patch Information

The vulnerability has been addressed in PEAR pearweb version 1.33.0. Organizations should upgrade to this version or later to remediate the vulnerability. The patch implements proper input sanitization and parameterized queries for the bug subscription deletion functionality.

For official patch details and upgrade instructions, see the GitHub Security Advisory.

Workarounds

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with strict SQL injection filtering rules for the affected endpoints
• Implement network segmentation to limit access to the pearweb application from trusted networks only
• Disable or restrict the bug subscription deletion functionality if not business-critical
• Apply custom input validation at the web server or reverse proxy level to filter malicious email parameter values

# Example WAF rule to block SQL injection in email parameters
# ModSecurity rule example
SecRule ARGS:email "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:100001,\
    phase:2,\
    block,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in email parameter',\
    logdata:'Matched Data: %{MATCHED_VAR} found within %{MATCHED_VAR_NAME}',\
    severity:'CRITICAL'"