Craft CMS is an open-source content management system widely used by web developers to create and manage websites. It is favored for its flexibility, user-friendly interface, and robust capabilities, making it suitable for both small businesses and large enterprises. Many marketing and web design agencies utilize Craft CMS to deliver customized web solutions to their clients. The platform supports extensive plugin integration, allowing developers to extend its functionalities. With its active community and regular updates, Craft CMS is positioned as a versatile tool for building dynamic websites.
The detected vulnerability in Craft CMS is a critical SQL Injection flaw that affects versions below 4.18.9 and 5.11.2. This vulnerability occurs due to improper sanitization of SQL queries, specifically in the element search endpoint, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code. This vulnerability does not require authentication, making it a severe concern for exposed systems. Attackers can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially leading to unauthorized database access. Successful exploitation can result in reading or modifying data, creating a platform for further attacks.
Technically, the SQL Injection vulnerability is exploited by manipulating unsanitized user inputs that are concatenated directly into SQL queries executed by the CMS. The injection occurs in the element search endpoint, where input parameters are improperly handled. Attackers can craft queries that exploit this weakness, possibly using time-based SQL injection techniques. This can lead to SQL command execution, allowing for significant database interaction. The exploit can be achieved through specially crafted HTTP requests sent to vulnerable endpoints within the CMS.
If exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to gain full access to the database and the underlying systems. The attacker can modify or read sensitive data, insert malicious data, and set administrative flags or even overwrite password hashes. Such unauthorized access can lead to data theft, compromising the integrity of the web application and potentially its users. It could also result in loss of control over the CMS, with attackers escalating privileges or further exploiting connected networks.
REFERENCES
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/security/advisories/GHSA-qcvp-ggx3-97r6
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/compare/4.18.8...4.18.9
- https://github.com/dinosn/CVE-2026-123488-CraftCMS-Lab
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/craft-cms-4.0.0-before-4.18.9-sql-injection-via-element-search-endpoint
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-123488
- Upgrade Craft CMS to version 4.18.9, 5.11.2, or later to address the SQL Injection vulnerability.
- Ensure that inputs are properly sanitized and validated to prevent SQL Injection attacks.
- Consider implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to mitigate attack vectors.
- Regularly audit your web applications and databases for security vulnerabilities.
- Provide secure coding training to developers focusing on input validation and parameterized queries.
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