CVE-2026-41462: ProjeQtor SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2026-41462 Overview

ProjeQtor versions 7.0 through 12.4.3 contain an unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability in the login functionality where the login variable is directly concatenated into a SQL query without parameterization or sanitization. Attackers can inject arbitrary SQL expressions through the username field at the authentication endpoint to create privileged accounts, read sensitive data, and execute operating system commands if the database user has elevated permissions.

Critical Impact

This unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability allows remote attackers to compromise the entire ProjeQtor application and potentially the underlying database server without any prior authentication, enabling data theft, account creation, and potentially remote code execution.

Affected Products

• ProjeQtor versions 7.0 through 12.4.3

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-27 - CVE CVE-2026-41462 published to NVD
• 2026-04-27 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-41462

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 (SQL Injection), a critical web application security flaw that occurs when user-supplied input is incorporated into SQL queries without proper validation or parameterization. In the case of CVE-2026-41462, the ProjeQtor login functionality directly concatenates the username (login variable) into a SQL query string, creating a classic SQL injection attack surface.

The vulnerability is particularly severe because it exists in the authentication endpoint, meaning attackers do not need any credentials to exploit it. This pre-authentication attack vector significantly expands the potential attack surface, as any internet-exposed ProjeQtor instance becomes a potential target.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input handling in the ProjeQtor authentication mechanism. The application fails to use parameterized queries or prepared statements when processing the login variable. Instead, user input is directly concatenated into the SQL query string, allowing attackers to break out of the intended query structure and inject their own SQL commands.

This implementation violates fundamental secure coding principles for database interaction. The lack of input sanitization combined with direct string concatenation creates a straightforward path for SQL injection attacks.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed over the network through the ProjeQtor login interface. An attacker submits a maliciously crafted username containing SQL syntax designed to manipulate the underlying database query. Since no authentication is required to access the login page, the attack can be performed by any remote attacker with network access to the vulnerable application.

The vulnerability in the login functionality allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL expressions through the username field at the authentication endpoint. Depending on the database configuration and the permissions assigned to the database user, successful exploitation can result in:

• Data Exfiltration: Reading sensitive project data, user credentials, and other confidential information stored in the database
• Privilege Escalation: Creating new administrative accounts to gain persistent access to the application
• Operating System Command Execution: If the database user has elevated permissions (such as FILE privileges in MySQL or xp_cmdshell in MSSQL), attackers may be able to execute operating system commands on the database server

For detailed technical analysis, refer to the VulnCheck Projeqtor SQL Injection Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-41462

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual login attempts containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes ('), double dashes (--), semicolons (;), or SQL keywords like UNION, SELECT, INSERT
• Database logs showing malformed queries or query errors originating from the authentication module
• Unexpected administrative user accounts created in the ProjeQtor application
• Anomalous database queries accessing sensitive tables outside normal application behavior

Detection Strategies

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules to monitor and block malicious payloads targeting the login endpoint
• Enable detailed database query logging and monitor for suspicious patterns including UNION SELECT, stacked queries, or time-based blind injection indicators
• Implement application-level logging for failed authentication attempts and analyze for SQL injection patterns
• Use SentinelOne Singularity to detect post-exploitation activities such as unauthorized process execution or lateral movement following successful database compromise

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure alerting for database errors or exceptions generated during authentication requests
• Monitor for bulk data access patterns or unauthorized table enumeration that may indicate successful exploitation
• Review access logs for the ProjeQtor login endpoint for unusually long request parameters or encoded payloads
• Track new user account creation events, particularly those with administrative privileges

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-41462

Immediate Actions Required

• Identify all ProjeQtor installations running versions 7.0 through 12.4.3 and prioritize them for remediation
• Restrict network access to the ProjeQtor application to trusted IP ranges or VPN connections until patching is complete
• Review database logs for evidence of exploitation and audit user accounts for unauthorized additions
• If possible, deploy WAF rules to block requests containing SQL injection patterns targeting the login functionality

Patch Information

Organizations should upgrade ProjeQtor to a patched version that addresses this SQL injection vulnerability. Consult the ProjeQtor Official Website for the latest security updates and version information. Additional technical details are available from the Damiri CVE-2026-41462 Overview and Gryfman CVE-2026-41462 Details.

Workarounds

• Implement network-level access controls to restrict access to the ProjeQtor login page from untrusted networks
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF with SQL injection blocking capabilities in front of the ProjeQtor application
• Review and restrict database user privileges to the minimum required, removing capabilities such as FILE access or command execution
• Enable detailed audit logging on both the application and database to detect exploitation attempts

# Example: Restrict network access to ProjeQtor using iptables
# Allow access only from trusted internal network
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 192.168.1.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 192.168.1.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP