CVE-2026-94015 Overview
CVE-2026-94015 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Drug Recommendation System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /drug_recommender/Admin/edit_user.php script, where the ID parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. A remote attacker can manipulate the ID argument to inject arbitrary SQL statements. No authentication is required, and the exploit has been publicly disclosed.
The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-74] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component). Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized data access, modification of administrative records, and potential compromise of the application backend.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can inject SQL into the edit_user.php endpoint to read or modify database contents in the Drug Recommendation System.
Affected Products
- SourceCodester Drug Recommendation System 1.0
- Component: /drug_recommender/Admin/edit_user.php
- Vulnerable parameter: ID
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-20 - CVE-2026-94015 published to NVD
- 2026-09-22 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-94015
Vulnerability Analysis
The edit_user.php administrative script accepts an ID parameter used to identify which user record to load or update. The application concatenates this parameter directly into a SQL statement without prepared statements or input validation. An attacker supplying crafted SQL syntax in ID can alter the query structure and execute arbitrary SQL against the backing database.
Because the endpoint is reachable over the network and requires no credentials, the barrier to exploitation is low. Public proof-of-concept material is available in the referenced GitHub SQLi Readme, which documents the injection point and payload structure.
Root Cause
The root cause is unsanitized user input flowing into a SQL query. The ID value from the HTTP request is embedded into the query string using string concatenation rather than parameterized queries. PHP's mysqli or PDO prepared statement APIs are not applied here, allowing metacharacters such as single quotes, comments, and UNION operators to break out of the intended query context.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network against the administrative interface of the Drug Recommendation System. An attacker issues an HTTP request to edit_user.php with a malicious ID value. Typical payloads include boolean-based, error-based, or UNION-based SQL injection to extract database contents such as user credentials, or to modify records within the users table.
See the VulDB entry for CVE-2026-94015 and the VulDB vulnerability record #407955 for additional technical context. No verified exploit code snippet is reproduced here; refer to the public advisory for payload details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-94015
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to /drug_recommender/Admin/edit_user.php containing SQL metacharacters in the ID parameter, such as single quotes, --, UNION SELECT, or OR 1=1.
- Unexpected database errors or long response times originating from edit_user.php.
- Web server access logs showing high-volume automated probing of the ID parameter from a single source IP.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that inspect the ID query string on edit_user.php for SQL injection patterns.
- Enable database query logging and alert on syntactically unusual queries against the users table.
- Correlate web request logs with database audit logs to identify injection attempts that reach the backend.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor authentication and administrative endpoints for anomalous parameter tampering.
- Track outbound data volume from the database host to identify potential exfiltration following injection.
- Alert on repeated 500-series HTTP responses from edit_user.php, which often indicate injection probing.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-94015
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the /drug_recommender/Admin/ directory to trusted administrative IP ranges.
- Deploy WAF signatures that block SQL injection payloads targeting the ID parameter.
- Review web server and database logs for prior exploitation attempts against edit_user.php.
Patch Information
No vendor patch has been published for SourceCodester Drug Recommendation System 1.0 at the time of CVE assignment. Operators should refactor edit_user.php to use parameterized queries. Cast the ID value to an integer before use, and validate that it corresponds to an existing record before executing any update statement.
Workarounds
- Enforce integer type casting on the ID parameter server-side (for example, $id = (int) $_GET['ID'];) before including it in SQL.
- Replace concatenated SQL with prepared statements using mysqli::prepare or PDO::prepare with bound parameters.
- Restrict the database account used by the application to least-privilege permissions, removing DROP, ALTER, and FILE privileges.
- If the application is not in active production use, take it offline until a code fix is applied.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
