CVE-2018-25362 in PHP-Twitter-Clone
Summary
by MITRE • 05/26/2026
Twitter-Clone 1 contains a SQL injection vulnerability in follow.php that allows attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting SQL code through the userid parameter. Attackers can submit union-based or time-based blind SQL injection payloads to extract sensitive database information including usernames, passwords, and database credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the twitter-clone application's follow.php endpoint which directly impacts database security and user privacy. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the userid parameter before incorporating it into sql queries, creating an entry point for malicious sql code injection. The vulnerability specifically enables attackers to execute union-based or time-based blind sql injection techniques that allow them to extract sensitive information from the underlying database system. Such attacks can potentially compromise user accounts by accessing stored credentials, usernames, and other confidential data that may be stored in the database. The security implications extend beyond simple data theft as this vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges, modify database contents, or even gain unauthorized access to the database server itself.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common sql injection patterns that fall under the cwe-89 category of improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate the intended flow of sql queries through crafted input parameters, effectively bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. The union-based approach enables attackers to combine their malicious sql commands with legitimate database queries to retrieve additional information, while time-based blind techniques allow for data extraction through response timing variations that confirm the success of sql injection attempts. These methods represent well-established exploitation techniques that require minimal sophistication to implement and can be automated using various security testing tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it directly compromises the integrity and confidentiality of user data within the twitter-clone application. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, potentially leading to identity theft, unauthorized communications, and data breaches that could affect thousands of users. The vulnerability also poses risks to the application's overall security posture by potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and access additional system resources. Organizations deploying such applications face significant compliance risks as this vulnerability could violate various data protection regulations and security standards that require proper input validation and sql injection prevention measures.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. The application should utilize prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate sql code from data inputs, ensuring that user-supplied parameters cannot alter the intended sql command structure. Additionally, implementing proper output encoding and input sanitization techniques will help prevent malicious code from being executed within the database context. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for sql injection attempts and implement regular security testing including automated sql injection scanning and manual penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities across the application stack. The implementation of least privilege database access controls and regular security audits will further reduce the potential impact of successful sql injection attacks by limiting the damage that can be caused by compromised database credentials.