CVE-2018-25166 in Meneame English Pligg
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2026
Meneame English Pligg 5.8 contains an SQL injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries by injecting malicious code through the search parameter. Attackers can send GET requests to index.php with crafted SQL payloads in the search parameter to extract sensitive database information including usernames, database names, and version details.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-25166 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Meneame English Pligg 5.8 content management system. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input through the search parameter, which fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming data before processing. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious SQL code directly into the application's database queries, bypassing normal authentication mechanisms and creating a significant security risk for affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and parameter handling within the index.php script. When users submit search queries through the web interface, the application directly incorporates the search parameter into SQL database queries without adequate sanitization or prepared statement usage. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as weaknesses in software that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through untrusted input. The vulnerability specifically manifests when attackers craft GET requests to the index.php endpoint, embedding malicious SQL payloads within the search parameter value.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables comprehensive database reconnaissance and potential system compromise. Attackers can extract sensitive information including user credentials, database schema details, and system version information through carefully constructed SQL injection payloads. The vulnerability's unauthenticated nature means that any remote user can exploit it without requiring valid login credentials, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. This weakness creates opportunities for privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within affected networks, as demonstrated by ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1213.002 for data from information repositories.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-25166 should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized query usage within the application code. System administrators must ensure that all user-supplied input undergoes proper sanitization before being processed in database operations, with particular emphasis on implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent malicious code execution. The affected Meneame English Pligg 5.8 version should be updated to the latest available release that addresses this vulnerability, as the software vendor likely released patches to resolve the input validation deficiencies. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though these should not replace proper code-level fixes. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other application components, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding standards and vulnerability management protocols.