CVE-2018-25194 in Nominas
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2026
Nominas 0.27 contains an SQL injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries by injecting malicious code through the username parameter. Attackers can send POST requests to the login/checklogin.php endpoint with crafted UNION-based SQL injection payloads to extract 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-2018-25194 resides within the Nominas 0.27 web application, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the application's authentication mechanism. This issue manifests as an SQL injection vulnerability that affects the login functionality, specifically targeting the username parameter processing within the login/checklogin.php endpoint. The flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures and gain unauthorized access to backend database systems through carefully crafted malicious input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic UNION-based SQL injection pattern where attackers can manipulate the application's database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the username field. When the application processes user input without proper sanitization or parameterization, the injected code gets executed within the database context, allowing attackers to perform unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the login endpoint which likely constructs SQL queries using string concatenation rather than prepared statements, creating an exploitable path for malicious input injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass, as it provides attackers with extensive database reconnaissance capabilities. Through the UNION-based injection technique, adversaries can extract sensitive information including database usernames, database schema details, and version information, which collectively enable more sophisticated attack vectors. This reconnaissance phase allows attackers to map the database structure and identify potential targets for further exploitation, potentially leading to data theft, privilege escalation, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and confidentiality, as it allows unauthorized access to sensitive data that should remain protected.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-25194 should prioritize immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. The recommended approach involves adopting prepared statements or parameterized queries throughout the application codebase, particularly in database interaction points such as the login/checklogin.php endpoint. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization measures and enforcing strict access controls can significantly reduce the attack surface. Security best practices dictate that all user inputs should be validated against expected formats and sanitized before processing, while also implementing proper error handling to prevent information leakage. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security code reviews to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under the T1190 tactic for exploitation of vulnerabilities. The attack vector leverages the application's insufficient input validation and improper database query construction, making it a prime example of how inadequate security controls can lead to severe consequences in web application environments. The vulnerability's classification as unauthenticated indicates that no prior authorization is required to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible applications.