CVE-2026-93997: Drug Recommendation System SQL Injection

CVE-2026-93997 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Drug Recommendation System 1.0 affecting the edit_symptom.php file. Attackers can exploit this remotely to manipulate database queries. This article covers technical details, affected versions, impact assessment, and mitigation strategies.

CVE-2026-93997 Overview

CVE-2026-93997 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Drug Recommendation System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /Admin/edit_symptom.php script, where the ID parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. An unauthenticated remote attacker can manipulate the parameter to alter the query logic, extract data, or modify records. Public exploit information is available, lowering the barrier to attack. The weakness is categorized under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component.

Critical Impact
Remote, unauthenticated attackers can inject arbitrary SQL through the ID parameter of edit_symptom.php, exposing administrative data and enabling record tampering.

Affected Products

SourceCodester Drug Recommendation System 1.0
Administrative component /Admin/edit_symptom.php
Deployments exposing the admin interface to untrusted networks

Discovery Timeline

2026-09-20 - CVE-2026-93997 published to NVD
2026-09-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-93997

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability affects the symptom-editing workflow inside the administrative area of the Drug Recommendation System. The application reads the ID request parameter and concatenates it into a SQL statement used to fetch or update a symptom record. Because the value is not parameterized or validated as an integer, an attacker can append SQL clauses that change the intended query.

Exploitation requires only network access to the admin endpoint. No authentication or user interaction is needed, according to the published attack vector. Successful injection can expose credentials, medical reference data, and other records stored in the backend database.

Public technical write-ups describe the exact parameter and payload behavior. See the GitHub SQL Injection Guide and the VulDB entry for CVE-2026-93997 for reproduction details.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in a database query [CWE-74]. The edit_symptom.php handler trusts the ID value from the client and interpolates it directly into SQL rather than binding it as a typed parameter. This design allows characters such as single quotes, comments, and UNION operators to change the query structure.

Attack Vector

An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to /Admin/edit_symptom.php with a malicious value in the ID parameter. Typical payloads use boolean-based, error-based, or UNION-based techniques to enumerate database contents. Because the endpoint is reachable over the network and no credentials are required, automated scanners and mass-exploitation tools can weaponize the flaw quickly. Refer to the VulDB Threat Intelligence entry for observed exploitation context.

No verified proof-of-concept code is reproduced here. Consult the VulDB Vulnerability record #407948 for sanitized technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-93997

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /Admin/edit_symptom.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, SLEEP(, or information_schema in the ID parameter.
Web server logs showing repeated requests to edit_symptom.php from a single source with varying ID values.
Database errors or long response times correlated with requests to the affected endpoint.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall rules that inspect the ID parameter for SQL injection patterns and reject non-numeric input.
Enable database query logging and alert on syntactically unusual queries originating from the admin PHP handlers.
Correlate authentication logs and admin endpoint access to identify unauthenticated hits against /Admin/ paths.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor outbound network flows from the web server for unexpected data volumes that may indicate database exfiltration.
Track file modifications on the application directory and database schema changes for signs of post-exploitation.
Baseline normal parameter values for edit_symptom.php and alert on deviations.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-93997

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the /Admin/ directory using IP allowlists or a VPN until a code fix is deployed.
Rewrite the affected query in edit_symptom.php to use prepared statements with bound parameters and cast ID to an integer.
Rotate database credentials and audit stored data for tampering if the application has been internet-exposed.

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been published for SourceCodester Drug Recommendation System 1.0 at the time of NVD publication. Operators should apply source-level fixes and review related admin scripts for the same anti-pattern. Refer to SourceCodester Security Resources for updates.

Workarounds

Place the application behind a web application firewall with SQL injection signatures enabled and block requests containing SQL keywords in the ID parameter.
Enforce server-side input validation that accepts only numeric identifiers for ID.
Run the backend database account with least privilege so that a successful injection cannot alter schema or read unrelated tables.

bash

# Example nginx rule to reject non-numeric ID values on the vulnerable endpoint
location = /Admin/edit_symptom.php {
    if ($arg_ID !~ "^[0-9]+$") {
        return 400;
    }
    include fastcgi_params;
    fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php-fpm.sock;
}