CVE-2026-5018: Simple Food Order System SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2026-5018 Overview

A SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in code-projects Simple Food Order System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in an unknown function within the register-router.php file of the Parameter Handler component. By manipulating the Name argument, an attacker can inject malicious SQL queries that are executed against the backend database. This attack can be launched remotely without authentication, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or disrupt application functionality without requiring authentication.

Affected Products

• Carmelo Simple Food Order System version 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-28 - CVE-2026-5018 published to NVD
• 2026-04-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-5018

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component), commonly referred to as an injection vulnerability. The affected component, register-router.php, fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input in the Name parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries.

When processing user registration requests, the Parameter Handler component directly concatenates user input into SQL statements without proper escaping, parameterization, or input validation. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query structure and inject arbitrary SQL commands that are then executed with the privileges of the database user.

The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network with low attack complexity. No privileges or user interaction are required for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible deployments.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of proper input sanitization and parameterized queries in the register-router.php file. The application directly incorporates user-controlled data from the Name parameter into SQL queries without using prepared statements or proper escaping mechanisms. This is a fundamental secure coding violation that allows untrusted data to be interpreted as SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based, allowing remote exploitation. An attacker can craft a malicious HTTP request to the register-router.php endpoint, injecting SQL syntax within the Name parameter field. The injected SQL code is then executed against the backend database, potentially allowing the attacker to:

• Extract sensitive user data including credentials
• Modify or delete database records
• Bypass authentication mechanisms
• Potentially achieve further system compromise depending on database configuration

The vulnerability has been publicly disclosed, and exploitation details are available through the GitHub CVE Issue Discussion, increasing the risk of active exploitation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-5018

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages in application logs originating from register-router.php
• Registration attempts containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, semicolons, or comment sequences in the Name field
• Database query logs showing unexpected UNION, SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements within registration contexts
• Anomalous database access patterns or data exfiltration attempts following registration requests

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in HTTP POST requests to registration endpoints
• Implement application-layer logging to capture and analyze all input parameters submitted to register-router.php
• Monitor database query logs for malformed or suspicious queries originating from the application's database user
• Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for the Simple Food Order System application, particularly for user registration functions
• Implement real-time alerting for SQL error conditions in application logs
• Monitor for abnormal database activity including bulk data reads or unauthorized schema modifications
• Review access logs for repeated registration attempts from single IP addresses which may indicate automated exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-5018

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the Simple Food Order System to trusted users only until patching is complete
• Implement WAF rules to block requests containing SQL injection patterns targeting the registration endpoint
• Review database logs for evidence of prior exploitation and assess data integrity
• Consider temporarily disabling the user registration functionality if operationally feasible

Patch Information

As of the last NVD update on 2026-04-02, no official patch has been referenced from the vendor. Organizations should monitor the Code Projects Resource and the GitHub CVE Issue Discussion for updates. Additional technical details are available through VulDB Vulnerability #353903.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation at the web server level to reject registration requests containing SQL metacharacters in the Name field
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF with SQL injection protection rules enabled for the affected endpoint
• Modify the application code to use parameterized queries or prepared statements for all database interactions in register-router.php
• Apply the principle of least privilege to the database user account used by the application to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation
• Isolate the database server from direct network access and ensure it only accepts connections from the application server

# Example WAF rule for ModSecurity to block SQL injection attempts
SecRule ARGS:Name "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:100001,\
    phase:2,\
    block,\
    log,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in Name parameter',\
    severity:CRITICAL"