CVE-2019-25640 in Inout Article Base CMS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/24/2026
Inout Article Base CMS contains SQL injection vulnerabilities that allow unauthenticated attackers to manipulate database queries through the 'p' and 'u' parameters. Attackers can inject SQL code using XOR-based payloads in GET requests to portalLogin.php to extract sensitive database information or cause denial of service through time-based attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25640 affects the Inout Article Base CMS, a content management system designed for article publishing and management. This critical security flaw resides in the application's handling of user input parameters within the portalLogin.php script, creating an avenue for unauthorized database manipulation. The vulnerability specifically impacts the 'p' and 'u' parameters which are processed without adequate sanitization or validation, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the backend database queries. This SQL injection vulnerability represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor input validation practices that have been categorized under CWE-89 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The attack vector requires no authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the vulnerable application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted GET requests that target the portalLogin.php endpoint. Attackers can utilize XOR-based SQL injection payloads which leverage the bitwise XOR operator to bypass certain input filters and detection mechanisms. These payloads are particularly effective because they can be constructed to work around basic security measures while maintaining the syntactic correctness required for successful SQL injection. The vulnerability enables attackers to extract sensitive database information including user credentials, administrative details, and potentially confidential content stored within the CMS database. Additionally, the vulnerability supports time-based attack methodologies where attackers can infer database structure and contents through timing variations in query execution, making it a versatile exploitation vector that can be used for both data exfiltration and system reconnaissance.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-25640 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and service disruption. Unauthenticated attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the underlying database, potentially leading to full system takeover through privilege escalation or lateral movement within network environments. The ability to execute arbitrary SQL commands means that attackers can manipulate, delete, or corrupt database contents, potentially causing denial of service conditions that render the CMS completely inaccessible to legitimate users. Organizations using the Inout Article Base CMS are particularly vulnerable as this vulnerability affects the core authentication mechanism, undermining the fundamental security assumptions of the system. The vulnerability also aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) for command and control communications and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) for reconnaissance activities prior to exploitation. The time-based attack capabilities make this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be used for automated reconnaissance without immediate detection, allowing attackers to map database structures and extract information over extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-25640 must focus on immediate patching of the vulnerable CMS version, as the vendor has likely released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures that filter or escape special characters in all user-supplied parameters before processing. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application to prevent SQL injection attacks by design. Additionally, web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, particularly those involving XOR operators and time-based techniques. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential attack surface, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The remediation process should also include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing new issues, and that existing security controls remain effective against similar attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and alerting systems to detect anomalous query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.