CVE-2023-1198 in Starcities
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2023
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in Saysis Starcities allows SQL Injection.
This issue affects Starcities: through 1.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2026
The CVE-2023-1198 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Saysis Starcities application version 1.3 and earlier. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command. The flaw occurs when user-supplied input is directly incorporated into SQL queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code through input fields that are processed by the application's database layer. When the application fails to properly escape or parameterize user input, an attacker can craft malicious payloads that alter the intended execution flow of SQL queries. This typically occurs in scenarios where form inputs, URL parameters, or API endpoints directly feed into database queries without proper validation or sanitization mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in the application's data handling logic where special SQL characters and commands are not properly neutralized before being executed against the backend database system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to the underlying database infrastructure. Successful exploitation can result in data exfiltration, data manipulation, privilege escalation, and potential complete system compromise. Attackers may extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and business-critical information stored within the database. The vulnerability also enables attackers to modify or delete database records, potentially causing significant operational disruption and data integrity issues. Given that this affects versions through 1.3, organizations running these older versions face heightened risk as the vulnerability has likely remained unpatched in production environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-1198 should prioritize immediate application updates to the latest available version that addresses this SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations must implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout their application codebase to prevent similar issues from occurring. The implementation of web application firewalls and database activity monitoring systems can provide additional layers of protection. Security teams should conduct comprehensive code reviews focusing on database interaction points and ensure all user inputs are properly sanitized before processing. This vulnerability aligns with attack techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy under the category of database injection attacks and should be addressed through defensive programming practices that follow secure coding guidelines established by organizations such as the Open Web Application Security Project. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack.