CVE-2026-112307 in sqlparse
Summary
by MITRE • 10/19/2026
sqlparse through 0.6.0 contains a PHP code injection vulnerability that allows attackers to inject PHP expressions by supplying SQL text containing unescaped dollar signs. Attackers can embed ${expr} or {${expr}} sequences that OutputPHPFilter places in double-quoted strings, executing arbitrary PHP code when the generated snippet runs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2026
The security flaw identified within sqlparse versions up to 0.6.0 represents a critical server-side code injection vulnerability rooted in improper handling of user-supplied input during SQL parsing and subsequent output filtering operations. This issue specifically affects the OutputPHPFilter component, which is designed to sanitize or transform data for PHP environments but fails to adequately escape special characters that hold significance within PHP string literals. The core technical deficiency lies in the failure to neutralize dollar signs when they appear as part of unescaped SQL text processed by the library. In PHP programming language syntax, the dollar sign serves as a prefix for variable interpolation and expression evaluation within double-quoted strings. When an attacker supplies SQL input containing sequences such as ${expr} or {${expr}}, these constructs are not properly escaped before being embedded into generated PHP code snippets that utilize double quotes for string definition.
This lack of escaping allows the malicious payload to survive the filtering process intact, effectively bypassing any intended sanitization measures. When the resulting PHP snippet is executed by the application runtime environment, the interpreter encounters the unescaped dollar sign sequences and treats them as valid variable interpolation or expression evaluation directives rather than literal text characters. Consequently, whatever content follows the dollar sign within those specific syntactic structures is evaluated as executable PHP code. This mechanism transforms what appears to be benign SQL data into a vector for arbitrary command execution on the server hosting the application. The vulnerability exploits the implicit trust placed in input validation layers and highlights the dangers of mixing dynamic language features with untrusted external inputs without rigorous escaping protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it grants remote attackers the ability to execute arbitrary PHP code within the context of the vulnerable application. This level of access typically leads to a complete compromise of the underlying system, allowing for data exfiltration, modification or deletion of critical database records, installation of web shells, and further lateral movement across the network infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this flaw to bypass authentication mechanisms, escalate privileges, or disrupt service availability by causing fatal errors through malformed expressions. The ease with which these payloads can be constructed makes it a high-risk threat for any application relying on sqlparse for SQL processing in PHP-based environments, particularly those that do not implement additional layers of defense such as strict input validation at the entry point or parameterized queries to mitigate injection risks generally.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate patching and architectural hardening. The primary remediation step is to upgrade the sqlparse library to a version greater than 0.6.0, where this specific escaping logic has been corrected to properly handle dollar signs within double-quoted string contexts. In addition to updating dependencies, developers should implement strict input validation that rejects or sanitizes any SQL inputs containing special characters like dollar signs before they reach the parsing layer. Employing parameterized queries and prepared statements can further reduce the attack surface by separating code from data at a fundamental level. Security teams should also consider implementing Web Application Firewalls to detect and block patterns indicative of PHP injection attempts, such as ${expr} sequences in HTTP requests. Regular security audits and static application security testing focused on output encoding practices are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities arising from improper handling of language-specific metacharacters in dynamic code generation scenarios.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, commonly known as Improper Control of Generation of Code or PHP Script, which describes flaws where software constructs executable code using externally-influenced input without proper neutralization of dangerous elements. It also maps to the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically subtechnique 001 for Command and Scripting Interpretation: JavaScript, though in this case it applies broadly to PHP script execution via injection. The exploitation path resembles aspects of CWE-78, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command, but adapted for server-side scripting languages rather than operating system commands. Understanding these classifications helps organizations prioritize remediation efforts and communicate the severity of the issue to stakeholders based on established industry standards for vulnerability management and risk assessment frameworks.