CVE-2026-105177 in Drug Recommendation System
Summary
by MITRE • 10/05/2026
A vulnerability was identified in SourceCodester Drug Recommendation System 1.0. The affected element is an unknown function of the file /Admin/add_drug.php of the component Drug Creation. Such manipulation of the argument txtname/cmdtype/txtusage/txtsideeffect/cmdcontraindication leads to sql injection. The attack may be performed from remote. The exploit is publicly available and might be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2026
The SourceCodester Drug Recommendation System version 1.0 contains a critical security flaw within its administrative interface, specifically located in the drug creation module found at /Admin/add_drug.php. This vulnerability manifests as an SQL injection weakness affecting multiple input parameters including txtname, cmdtype, txtusage, txtsideeffect, and cmdcontraindication. These fields are designed to accept user-supplied data for creating new drug records within the application database but fail to properly sanitize or validate the incoming information before incorporating it into dynamic SQL queries. This lack of proper input validation allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL commands directly into the backend database engine, bypassing intended access controls and logical restrictions inherent in the application design.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which defines Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. The root cause lies in the developer's failure to use parameterized queries or prepared statements when constructing database interactions. Instead, the system likely concatenates user input directly into SQL strings, creating a vector where special characters such as single quotes and semicolons can terminate legitimate query logic and append arbitrary commands. Because this functionality resides within an administrative endpoint, it typically requires some level of authentication; however, if credentials are compromised or if the application lacks robust access control mechanisms, remote attackers can exploit this flaw to manipulate database contents with significant consequences.
The operational impact of exploiting this SQL injection is severe and multifaceted. An attacker could potentially read sensitive data from the database, including patient records, user credentials, or proprietary drug information, leading to a breach of confidentiality. Furthermore, by modifying existing entries through update statements, an attacker can alter critical medical recommendations or system configurations, compromising data integrity. In more advanced exploitation scenarios involving stacked queries or specific database engine features like xp_cmdshell in Microsoft SQL Server, the vulnerability could lead to remote code execution on the underlying server, resulting in a complete compromise of the host infrastructure and potential lateral movement within the network environment.
This type of attack is categorized under MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically when used for database command injection, or more broadly as part of data exfiltration techniques such as T1005 Data from Local System if the goal is to steal information. The presence of a publicly available exploit significantly lowers the barrier to entry for malicious actors, increasing the likelihood of automated scanning and exploitation attempts against any instances of this software running on public-facing servers or poorly secured internal networks. Organizations relying on this system must treat it as high-risk due to the ease with which the vulnerability can be leveraged by threat actors possessing basic scripting knowledge.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate remediation is required at both the application code level and infrastructure configuration levels. Developers should refactor all database interaction logic in /Admin/add_drug.php to utilize parameterized queries or stored procedures that strictly separate SQL logic from data input. This ensures that user-supplied values are treated as literal data rather than executable commands regardless of their content. Additionally, implementing strict input validation using allowlists for expected character sets and lengths can provide an additional layer of defense against injection attempts. Deploying a Web Application Firewall with rules tuned to detect common SQL injection patterns may also help mitigate exploitation in the short term while permanent fixes are implemented. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that similar flaws do not exist elsewhere in the application architecture, ensuring comprehensive protection for sensitive medical data and system integrity.