CVE-2026-25240: Pear Pearweb SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2026-25240 Overview

CVE-2026-25240 is a SQL injection vulnerability in PEAR Pearweb, a framework and distribution system for reusable PHP components. Prior to version 1.33.0, a SQL injection vulnerability can occur in the user::maintains() function when role filters are provided as an array and interpolated into an IN (...) clause. This issue has been patched in version 1.33.0.

Critical Impact

This SQL injection vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate database queries through unsanitized array input in role filters, potentially enabling unauthorized data modification.

Affected Products

• PEAR Pearweb versions prior to 1.33.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-03 - CVE CVE-2026-25240 published to NVD
• 2026-02-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-25240

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the user::maintains() method within PEAR Pearweb. The flaw occurs when role filter parameters are accepted as an array and directly interpolated into a SQL IN (...) clause without proper sanitization or parameterization. When an attacker provides maliciously crafted array elements as role filters, these values become part of the SQL query string, allowing the injection of arbitrary SQL commands.

The vulnerability is network-accessible with low attack complexity, requiring no authentication or user interaction to exploit. While the vulnerability does not allow direct data exfiltration (confidentiality impact is none), it can be leveraged to modify data within the database (integrity impact is low).

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries when handling array-based role filters in the user::maintains() function. Instead of using prepared statements with bound parameters, the code directly concatenates user-supplied array values into the SQL query string, creating a classic SQL injection attack surface.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, targeting the user::maintains() function through web requests. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing specially formatted array parameters for role filters. When these parameters are processed by the vulnerable function, the injected SQL code is executed against the database.

The vulnerability mechanism involves the improper handling of array input in the role filter parameter. When the application constructs an IN (...) SQL clause, it iterates over the provided array elements and interpolates them directly into the query without proper escaping or parameterization. An attacker can include SQL metacharacters and additional SQL statements within the array elements to manipulate the query behavior.

For technical details on the specific vulnerable code paths, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-25240

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database query patterns containing SQL injection payloads in application logs
• Unexpected modifications to database records without corresponding legitimate user actions
• Web access logs showing requests with array parameters containing SQL metacharacters
• Database audit logs revealing anomalous queries targeting the user maintenance functionality

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web application firewall (WAF) logs for SQL injection patterns in array parameters
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect unusual query structures in the user management module
• Review application logs for error messages related to malformed SQL queries
• Deploy intrusion detection signatures for common SQL injection payloads in HTTP parameters

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed SQL query logging on the database server to capture attempted injection attempts
• Configure alerting for database integrity violations or unexpected data modifications
• Monitor for unusual patterns of requests to endpoints utilizing the user::maintains() function
• Implement real-time log analysis for SQL error messages that may indicate exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-25240

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade PEAR Pearweb to version 1.33.0 or later immediately
• Review database logs for signs of prior exploitation attempts
• Implement web application firewall rules to block SQL injection patterns in role filter parameters
• Audit database integrity to identify any unauthorized modifications

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 information and details are available in the GitHub Security Advisory.

Workarounds

• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules for array-based parameters
• Implement input validation at the application layer to reject role filter arrays containing SQL metacharacters
• Restrict network access to the affected application to trusted IP ranges only
• Consider temporarily disabling functionality that relies on the user::maintains() method until patching is complete

# Example WAF rule configuration (ModSecurity)
# Block SQL injection attempts in array parameters
SecRule ARGS "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in role filter parameter',\
    log,\
    auditlog"