CVE-2025-51506 in Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2025
In the smartLibrary component of the HRForecast Suite 0.4.3, a SQL injection vulnerability was discovered in the valueKey parameter. This flaw enables any authenticated user to execute arbitrary SQL queries, via crafted payloads to valueKey to the api/smartlibrary/v2/en/dictionaries/options/lookup endpoint.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-51506 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the smartLibrary component of the HRForecast Suite version 0.4.3. This security weakness resides in the api/smartlibrary/v2/en/dictionaries/options/lookup endpoint where the valueKey parameter is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. The flaw affects authenticated users who can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper parameter handling within the smartLibrary component's query construction logic. When the valueKey parameter is submitted to the endpoint, the application fails to employ prepared statements or proper input sanitization mechanisms. This allows maliciously crafted payloads to be directly incorporated into SQL query strings, enabling attackers to manipulate database operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is embedded into SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization. Attackers can exploit this by injecting SQL syntax into the valueKey parameter, potentially extracting sensitive information, modifying database records, or even executing administrative commands on the database server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations utilizing the HRForecast Suite, as it provides authenticated users with elevated privileges to perform unauthorized database operations. Given that the vulnerability requires only authentication to exploit, it presents a significant risk to systems where user access controls may not be sufficiently restrictive. An attacker with valid credentials could leverage this flaw to access sensitive human resources data, modify employee records, or potentially escalate privileges within the database environment. The vulnerability also poses risks to data integrity and confidentiality, as it could enable data exfiltration or manipulation of critical HR information that forms the backbone of organizational operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and parameterized queries to address this vulnerability. The recommended solution involves implementing proper prepared statement usage for all database interactions, particularly for the valueKey parameter in the smartLibrary endpoint. Additionally, input sanitization measures should be deployed to filter or escape special characters that could be used in SQL injection attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, while conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the HRForecast Suite. The remediation efforts should align with industry best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar injection vulnerabilities in the future.