CVE-2018-25428: Paroiciel 11.20 Unauthenticated SQL Injection Vulnerability

Technical summary

CVE-2018-25428 is a CWE-89 SQL injection vulnerability affecting Paroiciel 11.20. The vulnerability exists in the trec.php endpoint where the tRecIdListe parameter fails to properly sanitize or parameterize user input before incorporating it into SQL queries. An attacker can send GET requests with crafted SQL metacharacters and comment sequences to execute arbitrary SQL statements. The lack of input validation allows extraction of database schema information, user records, and potentially other sensitive data depending on database permissions and structure.

Business impact

Successful exploitation enables unauthorized database reconnaissance and data exfiltration. An attacker could identify sensitive table names, column definitions, and potentially extract credentials, personally identifiable information, or business-critical data without detection. The vulnerability requires no authentication, making it accessible to any network-connected attacker. Organizations running Paroiciel 11.20 face significant risk of data breach, compliance violations (GDPR, HIPAA, etc. if applicable data is exposed), and reputational harm.

Affected systems

Paroiciel version 11.20 is affected. Users should verify their installed version and confirm whether other minor versions near 11.20 are similarly vulnerable by consulting the vendor's security advisory. The vulnerability is accessible over the network from any unauthenticated source without requiring exploitation of additional weaknesses.

Exploitability

Exploitability is high. The vulnerability requires no authentication, no user interaction, and no special network access—only HTTP connectivity to the vulnerable endpoint. Attack complexity is low; a basic understanding of SQL syntax and web request construction suffices to craft functional payloads. Public proof-of-concept demonstrations may already be circulating, and automated scanning tools can detect the parameter injection point. Attackers can test for vulnerability presence with simple reconnaissance queries before launching data extraction campaigns.

Remediation

Upgrade Paroiciel to a patched version released by the vendor. Until patching is possible, implement network-level protections such as Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that block SQL metacharacters in the tRecIdListe parameter, restrict access to trec.php to trusted IP ranges, and disable the endpoint if not operationally required. Apply input validation and parameterized query controls at the application level. Monitor database query logs for suspicious SQL patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.

Patch guidance

Contact the Paroiciel vendor and review their security advisory for patched version availability and upgrade procedures. Verify that your current version number matches the vendor's list of affected releases. Test patches in a non-production environment before deployment. Given the high severity and unauthenticated nature of the flaw, prioritize patching within your change control process. If a vendor patch is unavailable, escalate to the vendor and evaluate whether the application should be taken offline pending a security fix.

Detection guidance

Monitor HTTP logs and WAF alerts for requests to trec.php containing SQL metacharacters or suspicious payloads in the tRecIdListe parameter (e.g., single quotes, UNION, SELECT, OR 1=1, comments like -- or /**/). Configure SIEM queries to flag database error messages or unexpected data volume in responses. Track database audit logs for unusual query patterns, schema enumeration attempts, or access to sensitive tables from the web application account. Implement baseline profiling of normal trec.php behavior to identify anomalies.

Why prioritize this

CVE-2018-25428 rates CVSS 8.2 (HIGH) due to unauthenticated remote access, high confidentiality impact (database disclosure), and low attack complexity. While integrity and availability impact are limited, the information leakage poses significant risk. This vulnerability should be treated as a critical remediation candidate for organizations running Paroiciel 11.20, particularly those handling regulated or sensitive data. The five-month gap between publication (June 2026) and modification suggests vendor activity; confirm patch availability before deprioritizing.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.2 reflects: Network-accessible attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no authentication required (PR:N), no user interaction needed (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact from database exposure (C:H), low integrity impact from limited write capability (I:L), and no availability impact (A:N). The score appropriately captures the severity of unauthenticated data exfiltration as a substantial threat, though it does not reflect business context like data sensitivity or regulatory exposure—factors organizations should layer into their own risk assessment.

Frequently asked questions