CVE-2026-96604 in DataLife Engine
Summary
by MITRE • 09/24/2026
A vulnerability was identified in SoftNews Media Group DataLife Engine 18.0. This affects the function strip_data of the file engine/modules/search.php of the component Search Module. The manipulation of the argument story leads to sql injection. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit is publicly available and might be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2026
A critical security flaw has been identified within SoftNews Media Group DataLife Engine version 18.0, specifically targeting the Search Module component. This vulnerability resides in the strip_data function located within the engine/modules/search.php file and represents a significant risk to application integrity due to its potential for remote exploitation. The core of this issue is an SQL injection weakness that arises from improper handling of user-supplied input during data sanitization processes. When attackers manipulate the story argument passed through the search functionality, they can bypass intended security controls and inject malicious Structured Query Language code into backend database operations. This type of vulnerability allows adversaries to interfere with queries executed by the application, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, or administrative configurations stored within the underlying database system.
The operational impact of this SQL injection flaw is severe given its remote exploitability and the availability of public proof-of-concept code. Attackers can initiate these attacks from a distance without requiring prior authentication in many scenarios involving search interfaces that do not enforce strict access controls on input parameters. The existence of publicly available exploits significantly lowers the barrier to entry for malicious actors, increasing the likelihood of automated scanning and targeted attacks against instances running this specific version of DataLife Engine. Successful exploitation could result in data exfiltration, modification or deletion of database records, and potentially full system compromise if the database service account possesses elevated privileges on the host operating system. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts further exacerbates the risk landscape by leaving administrators without official patches or guidance for remediation during a critical window of exposure.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-89, which describes Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command commonly known as SQL Injection. The attack vector corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically command and script interpretation via input manipulation, although the primary impact is data access rather than direct system execution. Organizations utilizing DataLife Engine 18.0 are advised to treat this issue with high priority due to its active exploitability in the wild. Immediate mitigation strategies should include implementing Web Application Firewall rules that detect and block SQL injection patterns within search query parameters, enforcing strict input validation and parameterized queries at the application code level if source code access is available, or restricting public access to the search module until a patched version is released by the vendor. Regular security audits and penetration testing are also recommended to identify similar weaknesses in other modules that may handle user input without adequate sanitization mechanisms.