CVE-2026-6183: Simple CMS 1.0 SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2026-6183 Overview

A SQL injection vulnerability has been discovered in code-projects Simple Content Management System 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the file /web/index.php where the ID parameter is not properly sanitized before being used in SQL queries. This flaw allows attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through user-supplied input. Remote exploitation of this vulnerability is possible, and a public exploit has been released, increasing the risk of active attacks against vulnerable installations.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can remotely exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or potentially compromise the underlying server through database-level attacks.

Affected Products

• code-projects Simple Content Management System 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• April 13, 2026 - CVE-2026-6183 published to NVD
• April 13, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-6183

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component), specifically manifesting as a SQL injection flaw. The vulnerable endpoint at /web/index.php accepts an ID parameter that is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper input validation or parameterization.

When processing requests, the application fails to sanitize or escape the ID parameter, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL syntax. This enables unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, and potentially command execution depending on the database configuration and privileges.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means that any attacker with HTTP access to the vulnerable application can attempt exploitation without requiring authentication. The public availability of exploit code significantly lowers the barrier to entry for malicious actors.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation in the /web/index.php file. The application directly incorporates user-supplied data from the ID parameter into SQL queries without implementing prepared statements, parameterized queries, or adequate input sanitization. This failure to follow secure coding practices allows the SQL command structure to be manipulated by attackers.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2026-6183 is network-based, requiring no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests targeting the /web/index.php endpoint with a manipulated ID parameter containing SQL injection payloads.

The attack flow involves:

1. Identifying a vulnerable Simple CMS installation exposed to the network
2. Sending crafted requests with SQL injection payloads in the ID parameter
3. Extracting database contents through error-based, blind, or UNION-based SQL injection techniques
4. Potentially escalating access to modify data or execute database commands

Technical details and proof-of-concept code can be found in the GitHub Simple CMS SQLi PoC repository. Additional vulnerability information is available through VulDB Vulnerability #357106.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-6183

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages in application logs or HTTP responses indicating injection attempts
• Access logs showing requests to /web/index.php with suspicious ID parameter values containing SQL keywords (UNION, SELECT, OR, AND, etc.)
• Unexpected database queries or data access patterns in database audit logs
• Web Application Firewall (WAF) alerts for SQL injection signature matches

Detection Strategies

• Deploy SQL injection detection rules in Web Application Firewalls (WAF) to identify and block common injection patterns
• Implement application-level logging for all database queries with parameter values to identify anomalous input
• Configure database monitoring to alert on unusual query patterns, excessive data retrieval, or error conditions
• Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor access logs for requests to /web/index.php containing special characters or SQL syntax in the ID parameter
• Enable verbose database logging to capture and analyze all queries executed by the application
• Set up alerts for database errors that may indicate injection attempts, such as syntax errors or type mismatches
• Review SentinelOne platform for endpoint activity that may indicate post-exploitation behavior following successful SQL injection

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-6183

Immediate Actions Required

• If using code-projects Simple Content Management System 1.0, consider taking the application offline until a patch is available or mitigations are in place
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to filter SQL injection attempts targeting the ID parameter
• Restrict network access to the application to only trusted IP ranges where possible
• Review database logs for evidence of prior exploitation and potential data compromise

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no official vendor patch has been announced for this vulnerability. Administrators should monitor Code Projects Resources for security updates. Given the public availability of exploit code, implementing compensating controls is strongly recommended until a patch is released.

Workarounds

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules enabled for the vulnerable endpoint
• Implement input validation at the application or reverse proxy level to reject requests containing SQL metacharacters in the ID parameter
• Use database connection accounts with minimal privileges, removing unnecessary permissions such as FILE, CREATE, or DROP capabilities
• Consider implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries if modifying the application source code is feasible

# Example WAF rule for ModSecurity to block SQL injection attempts on the ID parameter
SecRule ARGS:ID "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in ID parameter',\
    log,\
    severity:'CRITICAL'"