CVE-2018-25394: SQL Injection in Kados R10 GreenBee Unauthenticated Remote Database Access

Technical summary

The vulnerability resides in boards_buttons/update_release.php, where the release_id parameter is concatenated directly into SQL statements without input sanitization. Attackers can exploit this by sending a crafted GET request containing a UNION-based SQL injection payload. The lack of parameterized queries or prepared statements means arbitrary SQL SELECT operations can be executed against the backend database. The flaw requires no authentication, no user interaction, and no special network access—making it network-accessible to anyone with HTTP connectivity to the affected application.

Business impact

Successful exploitation enables unauthorized database reconnaissance and information disclosure. An attacker could extract user credentials, application configuration data, and other sensitive records stored in the database. While the CVSS vector indicates limited impact to data integrity and no availability impact, the high confidentiality rating reflects the risk of broad data exposure. For organizations running GreenBee in production, this creates a direct pathway for initial reconnaissance in multi-stage attacks.

Affected systems

Kados R10 GreenBee is affected. Verify your deployment version against Kados vendor advisories to confirm whether your instance requires patching.

Exploitability

This vulnerability exhibits high exploitability characteristics: network-accessible, requires no authentication or user interaction, and can be triggered via simple GET requests with injected payloads. UNION-based SQL injection techniques are well-documented and tooling is readily available. An attacker with basic web security knowledge can craft a working exploit. The primary barrier is discovering instances running GreenBee; once identified, exploitation is straightforward.

Remediation

Apply the security patch provided by Kados for R10 GreenBee. Patch availability and version numbers should be verified against the official Kados security advisory. In parallel, implement network segmentation to restrict access to administrative functions like boards_buttons/update_release.php to trusted internal networks only. Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules as a compensating control pending patch deployment.

Patch guidance

Contact Kados support or consult their security advisories for the specific patch version addressing CVE-2018-25394. Prioritize patching given the network-accessible, unauthenticated nature of the flaw. Test patches in a non-production environment before production deployment to ensure compatibility with your GreenBee configuration. After patching, validate that the release_id parameter is properly parameterized or escaped in all database queries.

Detection guidance

Monitor HTTP access logs for suspicious GET requests to boards_buttons/update_release.php, particularly those containing SQL metacharacters (single quotes, UNION keywords, SELECT statements, comment operators like -- or /*). Look for unusual characters or encoded payloads in the release_id parameter. Implement database query logging to detect anomalous SELECT operations or access patterns originating from the web application. Network-based intrusion detection signatures for UNION-based SQL injection payloads should trigger on affected endpoints.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability merits immediate attention due to its high CVSS score (8.2), zero authentication requirement, network accessibility, and lack of user interaction needed for exploitation. While not currently listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, the simplicity of the attack vector and the sensitive nature of database information at risk justify urgent patching. Organizations should treat this as a critical remediation candidate.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.2 (HIGH) reflects: Attack Vector Network (full remote access), Attack Complexity Low (no special conditions needed), Privileges Required None (no credentials needed), User Interaction None (automatic exploitation possible), Scope Unchanged, Confidentiality High (full database disclosure possible), Integrity Low (limited write capability assumed), and Availability None (no denial-of-service vector). The score appropriately weighs the ease of exploitation against the serious but non-catastrophic impact.

Frequently asked questions