CVE-2018-25390 in HaPe PKH
Summary
by MITRE • 05/29/2026
HaPe PKH 1.1 contains an SQL injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting SQL code through the 'desa' POST parameter sent to lap-peserta-perdesa-pdf.php. Attackers can send a crafted request with a time-based blind payload to infer and extract sensitive database information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2026
The HaPe PKH 1.1 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw that undermines the security posture of the system through improper input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability exists within the lap-peserta-perdesa-pdf.php script where the 'desa' parameter received via POST requests is directly incorporated into database queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to execute malicious sql commands by manipulating the desa parameter, effectively bypassing normal authentication and authorization controls that should protect sensitive database operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a time-based blind sql injection technique where attackers craft specific payloads that cause the database to delay responses based on boolean conditions. This approach enables attackers to infer database contents through timing variations in server responses rather than direct data retrieval methods. The vulnerability leverages the underlying database's ability to process conditional statements and execute delays, allowing attackers to extract information character by character through iterative requests. This method is particularly effective against systems where direct error messages are suppressed, making traditional sql injection detection more challenging.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes sensitive personal and administrative data that should remain protected within the database. Attackers can potentially extract participant information, administrative credentials, system configurations, and other confidential data that resides in the database. The time-based nature of the attack means that extraction processes are slower and more methodical, but the cumulative effect allows for comprehensive data exfiltration. This vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a backdoor into the system's data layer, bypassing application-level security controls and potentially enabling further lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands, and represents a classic example of how weak input validation can lead to complete system compromise. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the initial access and credential access phases of the attack chain as defined by the ATT&CK framework. The lack of authentication requirements makes this particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to immediately begin data extraction without needing to first establish valid credentials or exploit additional vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement proper input validation, parameterized queries, and regular security testing to prevent such vulnerabilities from persisting in their systems.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks, along with comprehensive input validation that filters or escapes special sql characters. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The system should also enforce proper access controls and authentication mechanisms to limit the impact of any successful attacks, while regular patching and security updates should be maintained to address known vulnerabilities in the underlying software components.