CVE-2026-15134: SQL Injection in CodeAstro Simple Online Leave Management System 1.0

Technical summary

The vulnerability exists in /SimpleOnlineLeave/index.php where user-supplied input from the email parameter is not properly sanitized before being used in SQL queries. This classic SQL injection flaw (CWE-89) stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands (CWE-74). The attack vector is network-based with no authentication or user interaction required, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL statements against the underlying database.

Business impact

Organizations deploying CodeAstro Simple Online Leave Management System 1.0 face direct risk to employee leave records, personal identification information, and system credentials stored in the database. Depending on database permissions and configuration, attackers could exfiltrate payroll data, manipulate leave balances, or establish persistence within HR systems. HR operations could be disrupted if data integrity is compromised, and regulatory compliance obligations (GDPR, state privacy laws) may be triggered by unauthorized data access.

Affected systems

CodeAstro Simple Online Leave Management System version 1.0 is affected. Organizations using this specific version in production environments are at risk. Verify your deployment version immediately. Vendors_products field indicates this may be a lesser-known or internally deployed application; conduct an inventory scan across your infrastructure for any instances of this system.

Exploitability

This vulnerability is highly exploitable. It requires no authentication, no special privileges, and no user interaction—an attacker can exploit it directly over the network. Public disclosure of exploit code substantially lowers the barrier to weaponization. Any internet-facing instance or even internal deployment accessible to untrusted network segments is at risk. Exploitation difficulty is low due to the straightforward nature of SQL injection attacks.

Remediation

Immediately discontinue use of CodeAstro Simple Online Leave Management System 1.0 or implement compensating controls if an alternative is not immediately available. Contact the vendor for patched versions. If patched versions are unavailable or the vendor is unresponsive, prioritize migration to a maintained, actively supported leave management solution. As a temporary measure, restrict network access to the application via firewall rules and disable or isolate any internet-facing instances pending replacement.

Patch guidance

Consult the vendor's security advisory and product pages for patched version availability. If you are running version 1.0, verify against the vendor advisory whether a patched release exists and what the recommended upgrade path is. If the vendor does not provide timely patches, treat this as a legacy/unsupported product and plan for replacement with actively maintained software. Document your patching timeline and communicate timelines to stakeholders.

Detection guidance

Monitor web server logs for suspicious SQL syntax in email parameter values, such as single quotes, UNION statements, OR 1=1, comment sequences (-- or /*), and encoded variants. Set up intrusion detection rules for /SimpleOnlineLeave/index.php requests containing SQL keywords or special characters in the email field. Database audit logs should flag unusual query patterns originating from the application. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools can monitor for unexpected database connections or data exfiltration from the application server.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability earns high priority due to the combination of a HIGH CVSS 3.1 score (7.3), public exploit availability, zero authentication requirement, and direct impact on confidential and sensitive HR data. The presence of multiple attack angles (data breach, integrity compromise, denial of service) across a network-accessible interface makes it a critical remediation target. Legacy or unsupported software running this version should be deprioritized away from other workloads immediately.

Risk score, explained

CVSS 3.1 score of 7.3 (HIGH) reflects a network-accessible, unauthenticated SQL injection with low attack complexity. The vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L indicates remote attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts all present. Public disclosure and demonstrated exploitability elevate practical risk above the base score in real-world environments.

Frequently asked questions