News Website Script SQLi (CVE-2019-25668)

Overview

News Website Script version 2.0.5 contains a significant SQL injection (SQLi) vulnerability. The flaw exists in the index.php/show/news/ endpoint, where the application fails to properly sanitize user input in the news ID parameter before using it in database queries.

Vulnerability Details

Tracked as CVE-2019-25668, this vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.2 (HIGH). Its critical nature stems from the low attack complexity and the absence of required privileges or user interaction. An attacker can send specially crafted GET requests containing malicious SQL code directly through the vulnerable parameter. Because the attack vector is NETWORK, this can be performed remotely over the internet.

Impact

Successful exploitation allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the backend database. The primary risk is the extraction of sensitive information, which could include administrative credentials, user data, or other confidential content stored within the application’s database. This type of flaw is a common precursor to full-scale data breaches, and organizations can review past incidents in our breach reports.

Remediation and Mitigation

The most effective action is to update News Website Script to a patched version immediately. Users of version 2.0.5 should consult the vendor for an official security update or patch.

If an immediate update is not possible, consider these temporary mitigation steps:

• Apply a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block SQL injection patterns targeting the affected /show/news/ path.
• Restrict network access to the application to only trusted IP addresses, if feasible.
• As a general security practice, ensure database accounts used by the application operate with the minimum necessary privileges.

Security Insight

This vulnerability highlights the persistent risk of SQL injection in smaller-scale or niche CMS platforms, which may not undergo the same level of security scrutiny as larger projects. It mirrors a common pattern where basic input validation flaws in core functions remain undiscovered for years, underscoring the importance of proactive code review and penetration testing even for seemingly simple applications. For the latest on similar threats, follow our security news.

Further Reading

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