CVE-2026-7282 Overview
A SQL Injection vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Pharmacy Sales and Inventory System version 1.0. This vulnerability affects the delete_expired function within the file /ajax.php?action=delete_expired. The manipulation of the ID argument allows for SQL injection attacks. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely, and public exploit information is available.
Critical Impact
This SQL injection vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate database queries through the ID parameter, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data modification, or data deletion in the pharmacy management system.
Affected Products
- SourceCodester Pharmacy Sales and Inventory System 1.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-04-28 - CVE CVE-2026-7282 published to NVD
- 2026-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-7282
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component), commonly referred to as "Injection." The affected component is the delete_expired function within the /ajax.php file. When processing requests with the action=delete_expired parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize the ID argument before incorporating it into SQL queries. This lack of input validation allows attackers to inject malicious SQL statements that can alter the intended database operations.
The vulnerability is network-accessible, meaning attackers can exploit it remotely without requiring physical access to the target system. However, the exploit requires high-level privileges, which somewhat limits the attack surface.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the delete_expired function. The application directly incorporates user-supplied input from the ID parameter into SQL queries without proper sanitization or the use of prepared statements. This allows specially crafted input to break out of the intended query structure and execute arbitrary SQL commands.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for CVE-2026-7282 is network-based, allowing remote exploitation. An authenticated attacker with elevated privileges can send a malicious HTTP request to the /ajax.php?action=delete_expired endpoint with a crafted ID parameter containing SQL injection payloads. The malicious input is processed by the delete_expired function without proper validation, resulting in the execution of unintended SQL commands against the backend database.
The vulnerability allows attackers to potentially read, modify, or delete data within the pharmacy system's database. This could include sensitive patient information, medication records, inventory data, and sales transactions.
For technical details on the vulnerability, see the GitHub Issue on CVE-Test and VulDB Vulnerability #359940.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-7282
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual or malformed HTTP requests to /ajax.php?action=delete_expired containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes ('), double dashes (--), semicolons (;), or UNION keywords
- Database error messages appearing in web server logs indicating SQL syntax errors
- Unexpected database queries or operations not corresponding to legitimate user actions
- Anomalous access patterns to the delete_expired function, especially from external IP addresses
Detection Strategies
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests targeting /ajax.php
- Monitor web server access logs for requests containing suspicious SQL characters or keywords in the ID parameter
- Deploy database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns or unauthorized data access
- Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection attack patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging for the /ajax.php endpoint to capture all request parameters
- Configure alerts for database errors that may indicate SQL injection attempts
- Implement real-time monitoring of database queries originating from the web application
- Review access logs regularly for patterns of automated scanning or exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-7282
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the Pharmacy Sales and Inventory System to trusted networks only until a patch is available
- Implement input validation and sanitization for the ID parameter at the web server or WAF level
- Review and audit database permissions to minimize potential impact from SQL injection attacks
- Back up all critical database information immediately
Patch Information
No official patch information is currently available from SourceCodester. Organizations should monitor the SourceCodester website for security updates. In the meantime, implementing the workarounds below is strongly recommended.
For additional vulnerability information, refer to VulDB Submission #803018 and VulDB CTI for #359940.
Workarounds
- Implement parameterized queries or prepared statements in the delete_expired function to prevent SQL injection
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to filter SQL injection payloads
- Restrict network access to the application using firewall rules to limit exposure
- Consider temporarily disabling the delete_expired functionality if not critical to operations
# Example: Apache mod_security rule to block SQL injection attempts
SecRule ARGS:ID "@rx (?i)(\bselect\b|\bunion\b|\binsert\b|\bupdate\b|\bdelete\b|\bdrop\b|--|;)" \
"id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'SQL Injection Attempt Blocked'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
