CVE-2025-3676 in Novel-Plus
Summary
by MITRE • 04/16/2025
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in xxyopen Novel-Plus 3.5.0. This affects an unknown part of the file /api/front/search/books. The manipulation of the argument sort leads to sql injection. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2025
This critical sql injection vulnerability exists in the xxyopen Novel-Plus 3.5.0 software within the /api/front/search/books endpoint. The flaw occurs when processing the sort parameter, which allows attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input. The vulnerability represents a direct breach of input validation controls and demonstrates a failure in proper parameter sanitization mechanisms. The attack vector is remote, meaning malicious actors can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the system or local network presence. This classification as a critical vulnerability indicates severe potential impact on system integrity and data confidentiality, as sql injection attacks can enable unauthorized access to sensitive database information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard sql injection patterns where the sort parameter becomes the attack surface for database manipulation. Attackers can craft malicious inputs that alter the intended sql query execution flow, potentially leading to data extraction, modification, or deletion operations. This particular flaw falls under the CWE-89 category of sql injection vulnerabilities, which are among the most prevalent and dangerous security weaknesses in web applications. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that any user with access to the affected api endpoint can potentially leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized database access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete database compromise and potential system takeover. An attacker could extract sensitive user information, modify database records, or even escalate privileges within the affected system. The fact that the exploit has been publicly disclosed increases the risk profile significantly, as it provides malicious actors with ready-made attack vectors without requiring additional reconnaissance. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system's data resources, potentially affecting thousands of users depending on the scale of the deployment.
Organizations utilizing xxyopen Novel-Plus 3.5.0 should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection exploitation. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input sanitization techniques and using prepared statements to ensure that user-supplied sort parameters cannot be interpreted as sql commands. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and block suspicious api requests. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts further emphasizes the urgency of implementing defensive measures, as no official patch or mitigation guidance is currently available. Security teams should also consider monitoring for exploitation attempts and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments of related systems to identify potential lateral movement opportunities that this vulnerability might enable.