CVE-2025-40887 in Guardian
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2025
A SQL Injection vulnerability was discovered in the Alert functionality due to improper validation of an input parameter. An authenticated user with limited privileges can execute arbitrary SELECT SQL statements on the DBMS used by the web application, potentially exposing unauthorized data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the alert system functionality of a web application, classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89. The security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into database queries. The vulnerability specifically affects the alert module where user inputs are directly concatenated into SQL command strings without proper escaping or parameterization techniques. An authenticated attacker with minimal privileges can exploit this weakness to manipulate the underlying database management system through crafted input sequences that inject malicious SQL code. The attack vector leverages the fact that the application does not implement proper input sanitization or prepared statement usage when processing alert-related parameters, creating an environment where malicious SQL statements can be executed with the privileges of the web application's database user account. This vulnerability poses significant operational risks as it allows unauthorized data access and potential information disclosure, potentially exposing sensitive database records that should remain protected. The impact extends beyond simple data retrieval since the attacker can construct complex SELECT statements that may traverse database schemas, extract multiple tables, or even access system-level information depending on the database permissions granted to the application user. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Databases, where adversaries leverage injection flaws to access unauthorized data. The authenticated nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require administrative privileges to exploit the weakness, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by users with legitimate access to the system. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive input validation controls, utilizing parameterized queries or prepared statements, and implementing proper database access controls to mitigate this risk. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security testing of application components that interact with database systems. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to data breaches, compliance violations, and potential system compromise if the database contains sensitive information or if the attacker can escalate privileges through additional attack vectors. Security teams should prioritize patching this vulnerability and implementing proper monitoring for suspicious database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection vulnerability occurs when the application processes alert configuration parameters without proper sanitization. When an authenticated user submits data through the alert functionality, the system fails to validate or escape special characters that could alter the intended SQL query structure. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed against the database backend, potentially retrieving unauthorized data or even manipulating database contents. The vulnerability specifically targets the database interaction layer where user inputs are directly incorporated into SQL statements, violating fundamental security principles of input validation and output encoding. The weakness creates a direct pathway for attackers to bypass normal access controls and execute unauthorized database operations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited by users who have legitimate access to the application but lack the necessary privileges to access certain data, enabling privilege escalation through data manipulation. The impact of this vulnerability can be substantial as it may allow attackers to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, financial records, or proprietary business information depending on the database schema and access permissions. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious input that terminates the original SQL statement and appends attacker-controlled SQL commands, which then execute with the database user's permissions. Organizations must implement robust input validation mechanisms, utilize parameterized queries, and establish proper database access controls to prevent unauthorized data access. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies including database activity monitoring, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses across the application infrastructure. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms to detect and prevent SQL injection attempts before they can be successfully executed against vulnerable components.