CVE-2026-112238 in File manager Extension
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2026
The file search of the extension builds its database conditions by wrapping the search term in quotes itself. Only the wildcard characters of the LIKE operator are escaped, quote characters are not. A crafted search term can therefore leave the intended string value and change the database query. This allows an attacker to read data from the database. The issue affects every searched field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a classic SQL injection flaw within a browser extension's file search functionality, stemming from improper input sanitization during database query construction. In this specific implementation, the application attempts to mitigate basic injection risks by escaping wildcard characters associated with the LIKE operator, such as percent signs and underscores. However, it fails to escape quote characters, which are critical delimiters in SQL syntax. By wrapping the search term in quotes itself without neutralizing embedded quotation marks from user input, the extension leaves a significant attack vector open. This oversight allows an attacker to manipulate the structure of the underlying database query by terminating the intended string value and appending malicious SQL commands.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-89, which defines Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. The root cause lies in the application's assumption that escaping wildcards is sufficient for security, ignoring the fundamental requirement to escape all special characters or, preferably, use parameterized queries. When a user inputs a crafted search term containing unescaped quotes, the database engine interprets these characters not as literal data but as structural elements of the query language. This breaks the separation between code and data, enabling the attacker to alter the logic of the SQL statement executed against the backend storage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, primarily because it allows for unauthorized data exfiltration from the database. Since the issue affects every searched field, an attacker can target any column or table accessible by the extension's database user account. By leveraging techniques such as UNION-based injection or error-based extraction, a malicious actor could retrieve sensitive information stored locally within the browser profile, including saved passwords, browsing history, cookies, and other personal data associated with the extensions' scope. This compromises the confidentiality of the user's digital identity and private records.
In terms of threat modeling, this vulnerability maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically Command and Scripting Interpreter sub-techniques if interpreted broadly as code execution via injection, but more accurately it falls under Data from Local System Access (T1005) or potentially SQL Injection patterns often associated with initial access or credential dumping phases depending on the extension's privileges. The attacker does not need to execute arbitrary system commands directly; instead, they exploit the database interface to read data, which is a common precursor to more advanced attacks such as privilege escalation if administrative credentials are stored in the same database.
To mitigate this vulnerability, developers must implement robust input validation and output encoding strategies. The most effective remediation is to replace string concatenation with parameterized queries or prepared statements, which ensure that user input is always treated as data rather than executable code. If dynamic query construction is unavoidable due to framework limitations, all special characters, including single quotes, double quotes, backslashes, and null bytes, must be properly escaped using a context-aware escaping function provided by the database driver. Additionally, implementing strict allow-list validation for search inputs can further reduce the attack surface by rejecting any input that does not match expected alphanumeric or safe character patterns. Regular security audits and static code analysis tools configured to detect SQL injection patterns should also be employed to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.