CVE-2026-78248 in Simple Online Food Ordering System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/24/2026
A vulnerability was determined in SourceCodester Simple Online Food Ordering System 1.0. Impacted is an unknown function of the file /fos/admin/ajax.php?action=save_settings. This manipulation of the argument Name causes sql injection. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. The exploit has been publicly disclosed and may be utilized.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2026
The SourceCodester Simple Online Food Ordering System version 1.0 contains a critical security flaw within its administrative interface, specifically located in the file /fos/admin/ajax.php when processing requests with the action parameter set to save_settings. This vulnerability manifests as an SQL injection weakness triggered by improper sanitization of input data passed through the Name argument. The application fails to adequately validate or escape user-supplied content before incorporating it into database queries, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL commands directly into the backend logic. Because this endpoint is part of the administrative module and accessible via AJAX requests over HTTP, the vulnerability can be exploited remotely by any authenticated administrator or potentially unauthenticated users if access controls are misconfigured, significantly expanding the attack surface beyond local exploitation scenarios.
From a technical perspective, this flaw represents a classic instance of blind SQL injection where the application constructs dynamic SQL statements using unsanitized input variables. An attacker can manipulate the Name parameter to alter the structure of the underlying database query, potentially bypassing authentication mechanisms, extracting sensitive data such as user credentials and personal information stored in the food ordering system's database, or even modifying existing records. The ability to execute arbitrary SQL commands grants the attacker a high degree of control over the backend infrastructure, which can lead to complete compromise of the application's integrity and confidentiality. This type of vulnerability is formally categorized under CWE-89 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command within industry standard classification systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft. Successful exploitation could allow a malicious actor to escalate privileges, pivot into other internal network segments if the database server shares resources with critical infrastructure, or deface the application by altering menu items and pricing structures displayed to customers. Given that the exploit has been publicly disclosed, automated scanning tools and opportunistic attackers are likely already attempting to leverage this weakness against exposed instances of the software. The presence of a public proof-of-concept significantly lowers the barrier for entry, enabling less skilled threat actors to compromise systems running this specific version without needing to develop custom exploitation code from scratch.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate remediation and defensive hardening. The primary solution involves applying vendor-provided patches or updates that address the input validation logic in the save_settings function. Developers should implement parameterized queries or prepared statements for all database interactions involving user-supplied data, ensuring that input is treated strictly as data rather than executable code. Additionally, implementing strict input validation rules that whitelist expected characters and lengths for the Name field can provide an additional layer of defense against injection attacks. For organizations unable to immediately patch the software, deploying a Web Application Firewall with specific rule sets designed to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting this endpoint can serve as a temporary compensating control while permanent fixes are implemented. Regular security audits and code reviews should also be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across other modules of the application.