CVE-2026-90574 Overview
CVE-2026-90574 is a SQL injection vulnerability in itsourcecode Sales and Inventory System 1.0. The flaw exists in /pages/emp_transac.php?action=add, where the firstname parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. Attackers can manipulate this argument to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network and requires low-privileged authentication. Public exploit details have been released, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic attacks against exposed installations. The issue is categorized under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component.
Critical Impact
Authenticated remote attackers can inject SQL through the firstname parameter to read, modify, or delete data in the underlying sales and inventory database.
Affected Products
- itsourcecode Sales and Inventory System 1.0
- Component: /pages/emp_transac.php (action=add)
- Vulnerable parameter: firstname
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-13 - CVE-2026-90574 published to NVD
- 2026-09-14 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-90574
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the employee transaction handler at /pages/emp_transac.php when invoked with action=add. User-supplied input from the firstname field flows directly into a SQL statement without parameterization or escaping. An authenticated attacker submits crafted values that break out of the intended string context and append arbitrary SQL clauses. Because the endpoint is reachable over the network and public exploit information exists, the barrier to exploitation is low. Successful injection can disclose employee, sales, and inventory records, tamper with transactional data, or enable authentication logic manipulation depending on schema and query structure.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in the firstname request parameter before its use in a SQL query. The application concatenates request data directly into the query string rather than binding parameters through prepared statements. This design permits injection of SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION operators, and comment sequences to alter query semantics.
Attack Vector
An attacker with low-privilege access to the application submits a POST or GET request to /pages/emp_transac.php?action=add containing a malicious firstname value. The injected payload extends the underlying SQL query to extract data via UNION SELECT clauses, enumerate schema information, or perform destructive operations. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's own request.
Refer to the VulDB Vulnerability Details and GitHub Issue Discussion for public technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-90574
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to /pages/emp_transac.php?action=add containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, /*, UNION, or SLEEP( in the firstname parameter.
- Web server or PHP error logs referencing SQL syntax errors originating from emp_transac.php.
- Unexpected read or write activity against employee, transaction, or inventory tables outside normal business patterns.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) signatures that inspect the firstname parameter for SQL injection payloads.
- Enable database query logging and alert on unusual UNION, INFORMATION_SCHEMA, or time-based function usage originating from the application account.
- Correlate authentication events with subsequent injection attempts to identify low-privilege accounts abusing the endpoint.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Baseline normal request patterns for /pages/emp_transac.php and alert on anomalies in payload length or character distribution.
- Monitor for repeated 500-level HTTP responses from the endpoint, which often indicate injection probing.
- Forward web server, application, and database logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation and retention.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-90574
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the Sales and Inventory System to trusted internal networks or VPN users until a patch is available.
- Rotate credentials for any accounts capable of authenticating to the vulnerable endpoint.
- Review database and application logs for signs of prior exploitation of /pages/emp_transac.php.
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been published at the time of NVD listing. Monitor the IT Source Code Resource and VulDB CVE Database Entry for future advisories or upstream fixes.
Workarounds
- Modify the affected PHP handler to use prepared statements with bound parameters (for example, PDO or mysqli prepared statements) instead of string concatenation.
- Apply strict server-side input validation on the firstname field, rejecting non-alphabetic characters where appropriate.
- Deploy WAF rules to block SQL injection payloads targeting /pages/emp_transac.php until code-level remediation is applied.
- Enforce least-privilege database accounts so that the web application cannot perform destructive operations on unrelated tables.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
