CVE-2018-25166
SQL Injection in Meneame English Pligg 5.8 Exposes Data
Publication date: 2026-03-06
Last updated on: 2026-03-06
Assigner: VulnCheck
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| meneame | pligg | to 5.8 (exc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-89 | The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
[{'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'CVE-2018-25166 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability affecting Meneame English Pligg version 5.8 and earlier. It allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries by injecting malicious code into the "search" parameter via GET requests to the index.php page.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'This means an attacker can craft a special URL with SQL code embedded in the search parameter, which the application then executes on its database. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in the database.'}] [1, 2]
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
Exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to extract sensitive database information such as usernames, database names, and version details without any authentication.
This unauthorized data retrieval can lead to data breaches, loss of confidentiality, and potentially further attacks against the system by leveraging the exposed information.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
I don't know
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
[{'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "This vulnerability can be detected by sending crafted GET requests to the index.php page with malicious SQL payloads in the 'search' parameter and observing the response for signs of SQL injection."}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'A common detection method involves using tools like curl or wget to send test payloads that attempt to extract database information or cause SQL errors.'}, {'type': 'list_item', 'content': 'Example curl command to test for SQL injection: curl "http://target-site/index.php?search=\' OR \'1\'=\'1"'}, {'type': 'list_item', 'content': 'Using sqlmap, an automated SQL injection tool, to test the \'search\' parameter: sqlmap -u "http://target-site/index.php?search=test" --risk=3 --level=5'}] [1, 2]
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
[{'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "Immediate mitigation steps include applying input validation and sanitization on the 'search' parameter to prevent SQL injection."}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'If a patch or updated version of Meneame English Pligg is available, upgrade to the fixed version to eliminate the vulnerability.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "As a temporary measure, consider implementing a web application firewall (WAF) to block malicious SQL injection payloads targeting the 'search' parameter."}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Restricting database user permissions to limit the impact of a successful injection can also help mitigate damage.'}] [1]