SQL Injection in CodeAstro Simple Online Leave Management System

Executive Summary

CVE-2026-15558 is a SQL injection vulnerability in CodeAstro Simple Online Leave Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the file /SimpleOnlineLeave/admin/deletemp.php, where the 'ID' parameter is not properly validated or sanitized.

This flaw allows attackers to manipulate the 'ID' parameter to inject malicious SQL statements into the application's database queries. Since the attack can be executed remotely, an unauthenticated or low-privileged attacker could exploit this vulnerability without direct access to the system.

• The vulnerability is caused by insufficient input validation and sanitization of the 'id' GET parameter.
• Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized database access, data leakage, modification, or deletion.
• A proof of concept demonstrates time-based blind SQL injection, where a crafted payload causes a delay in the system's response, confirming the vulnerability.

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Detection Guidance

To detect this vulnerability on your network or system, you can check for the presence of the affected file and test for SQL injection susceptibility in the 'id' parameter of the /SimpleOnlineLeave/admin/deletemp.php endpoint.

• Verify if the vulnerable file exists on your system by checking the path: /SimpleOnlineLeave/admin/deletemp.php.
• Use a web vulnerability scanner like OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite to scan for SQL injection vulnerabilities in the application.
• Manually test the 'id' parameter by sending a request with a time-based blind SQL injection payload, such as: /SimpleOnlineLeave/admin/deletemp.php?id=1 AND (SELECT * FROM (SELECT(SLEEP(5)))a). If the response is delayed by 5 seconds, the vulnerability is confirmed.
• Check web server logs for unusual or malformed requests targeting the /SimpleOnlineLeave/admin/deletemp.php file with suspicious 'id' parameter values.

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Impact Analysis

If you are using CodeAstro Simple Online Leave Management System version 1.0, this vulnerability could have several severe impacts on your organization or system.

• Unauthorized access to sensitive data: Attackers could extract confidential information stored in the database, such as employee records, leave details, or administrative credentials.
• Data manipulation or deletion: Malicious actors could alter or delete critical data, leading to operational disruptions or loss of important records.
• Service interruption: Exploitation of this vulnerability could cause the system to crash or become unresponsive, disrupting leave management operations.
• Further system compromise: Attackers could use this vulnerability as an entry point to escalate privileges, move laterally within the network, or deploy additional malware.
• Reputation damage: A successful attack could erode trust in your organization, especially if sensitive employee or customer data is exposed.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability can significantly impact compliance with various standards and regulations, depending on the type of data your organization handles.

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): If the system stores personal data of EU citizens, exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access or disclosure of such data. This violates GDPR's requirements for data protection and could result in hefty fines (up to 4% of global revenue or €20 million, whichever is higher).
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): If the leave management system contains protected health information (PHI), a breach due to this vulnerability could violate HIPAA's Security Rule. This could lead to penalties ranging from $100 to $50,000 per violation, with a maximum of $1.5 million per year for each violation.
• PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard): If the system processes or stores payment card information, this vulnerability could lead to non-compliance with PCI DSS requirements for securing cardholder data, potentially resulting in fines or loss of payment processing capabilities.
• ISO 27001: This standard requires organizations to implement controls to protect information assets. A SQL injection vulnerability indicates a failure to implement adequate security measures, which could lead to non-compliance during audits.
• Other industry-specific regulations: Depending on your sector (e.g., finance, government), this vulnerability could violate additional compliance requirements, such as those outlined in SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act) or FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act).

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Mitigation Strategies

To mitigate this vulnerability, follow these immediate steps:

• Apply input validation and sanitization to the 'id' parameter in the /SimpleOnlineLeave/admin/deletemp.php file to prevent SQL injection attacks.
• Replace direct SQL queries with prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure user input is treated as data, not executable code.
• Restrict database account privileges to the least necessary for the application to function, reducing the impact of a successful SQL injection attack.
• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) to filter and block malicious SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoint.
• Monitor the application for unusual activity and review logs regularly to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts.
• Consider updating or patching the Simple Online Leave Management System to the latest version if a fix is available from the vendor.

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