CVE-2026-6182 Overview
A SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in code-projects Simple Content Management System 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /web/admin/login.php file, where improper handling of the User parameter allows attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. This flaw can be exploited remotely without authentication, potentially enabling attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data from the database, or manipulate application behavior.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to bypass authentication and potentially gain unauthorized administrative access to the content management system.
Affected Products
- code-projects Simple Content Management System 1.0
- Applications using the vulnerable /web/admin/login.php authentication module
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-04-13 - CVE-2026-6182 published to NVD
- 2026-04-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-6182
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component), specifically manifesting as a SQL injection attack. The vulnerable functionality resides in the admin login mechanism where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL queries.
The attack surface is accessible over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation allows attackers to manipulate database queries, potentially leading to authentication bypass, data exfiltration, or unauthorized modification of database contents. The publicly available exploit indicates this vulnerability can be weaponized to bypass login controls entirely.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is the failure to properly sanitize or parameterize user input in the User argument within the /web/admin/login.php file. When user-supplied data is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper validation, escaping, or the use of prepared statements, attackers can inject arbitrary SQL code that the database will execute.
Attack Vector
The attack can be launched remotely over the network against the admin login page. An attacker can craft malicious input in the User parameter field that, when processed by the backend, modifies the intended SQL query logic. This typically involves injecting SQL syntax that evaluates to true in authentication checks, effectively bypassing password verification.
The vulnerability is exploited by submitting specially crafted payloads in the login form's username field. The injected SQL code manipulates the authentication query to return a valid result regardless of whether valid credentials were provided. A proof-of-concept for this SQL injection login bypass is available on GitHub.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-6182
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual login attempts to /web/admin/login.php with SQL syntax in the username field
- Database error messages appearing in web server logs related to malformed SQL queries
- Successful admin logins from unexpected IP addresses or geographic locations
- Web application firewall (WAF) logs showing blocked SQL injection attempts against the login endpoint
Detection Strategies
- Monitor web server access logs for requests to /web/admin/login.php containing SQL keywords such as OR, UNION, SELECT, single quotes, or comment sequences (--, /*)
- Implement SQL injection detection rules in your WAF or IDS to alert on common injection patterns targeting authentication endpoints
- Review database query logs for anomalous authentication queries or syntax errors that may indicate exploitation attempts
- Deploy application-level logging to track failed and successful login attempts with full request details
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging on the web server and database server to capture authentication-related queries
- Set up alerts for multiple failed login attempts followed by a successful login, which may indicate successful injection bypass
- Regularly audit database user tables and access logs for signs of unauthorized account creation or privilege escalation
- Monitor network traffic for data exfiltration patterns that may follow successful SQL injection attacks
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-6182
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the /web/admin/login.php endpoint using IP allowlisting if possible
- Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules enabled
- Consider taking the vulnerable admin login page offline until a patch is applied
- Review database logs for evidence of past exploitation attempts
- Rotate database credentials and admin account passwords as a precaution
Patch Information
No official patch information has been provided by the vendor at this time. Organizations should monitor code-projects.org for security updates and patch releases. Additional vulnerability details are available through VulDB.
Workarounds
- Implement input validation on the User parameter to reject special characters commonly used in SQL injection attacks
- Modify the vulnerable code to use prepared statements with parameterized queries instead of string concatenation
- Add a web application firewall rule to block requests containing SQL injection payloads in the login form
- Restrict administrative panel access to trusted IP addresses only through server configuration
- Consider replacing the affected CMS with a maintained alternative that follows secure coding practices
If you are able to modify the application code, the recommended fix is to replace any dynamically constructed SQL queries with prepared statements. This ensures user input is treated as data rather than executable SQL code. Consult the OWASP SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet for secure coding guidance.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
