CVE-2018-25364 in PHP-Twitter-Clone
Summary
by MITRE • 05/26/2026
Twitter-Clone 1 contains a SQL injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries by injecting malicious code through the name parameter. Attackers can submit crafted payloads to the search.php endpoint to extract database information including usernames, credentials, and system data using error-based and union-based SQL injection techniques.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the twitter-clone 1 application that fundamentally compromises database security through improper input validation. The weakness exists in the search.php endpoint where the name parameter fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data, creating an attack surface that allows unauthenticated threat actors to manipulate database queries directly. The vulnerability classifies under cwe-89 sql injection as defined by the common weakness enumeration standard, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands. Attackers exploit this by crafting malicious payloads that bypass application-level filtering mechanisms and inject arbitrary sql code into the backend database engine. The technical implementation leverages both error-based and union-based sql injection methodologies to extract sensitive information from the underlying database system. Error-based techniques involve manipulating sql queries to generate database error messages that reveal internal database structure and content, while union-based approaches utilize sql union operators to combine malicious select statements with legitimate database queries to retrieve unauthorized data. The operational impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as attackers can potentially extract user credentials, system configuration details, and other sensitive data that could enable further exploitation or lateral movement within the affected environment. This vulnerability directly maps to several tactics and techniques defined in the mitre att&ck framework including t1071.004 application layer protocol web protocols and t1213.002 data from information repositories database. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation means that any external attacker can potentially access the system without prior credentials or authorization, making this particularly dangerous in publicly accessible applications. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation and output encoding practices that should be addressed through proper parameterized queries and input sanitization techniques. Organizations running this application face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential system compromise if this vulnerability remains unpatched. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects a search functionality that likely receives high volumes of user input, making it a prime target for automated exploitation attempts. Database administrators and security teams should immediately implement input validation controls, deploy web application firewalls, and conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities across the application stack. Remediation efforts must include code-level fixes that eliminate direct sql query construction from user input, implement proper parameterized queries, and establish robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future development cycles. The incident highlights the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security frameworks such as owasp top ten and iso 27001 security standards to prevent sql injection attacks that can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized data access.