Critical Authenticated Blind SQL Injection Flaw Discovered in dotCMS 25.07.02-1

Authenticated Blind SQL Injection Vulnerability Identified in dotCMS 25.07.02-1

Security researchers have disclosed a critical authenticated blind SQL injection (SQLi) vulnerability in dotCMS version 25.07.02-1, a popular open-source content management system (CMS). The flaw, tracked under Exploit-DB ID 52431, allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries, potentially leading to unauthorized database access and data exfiltration.

Technical Details

The vulnerability resides in dotCMS’s authentication mechanism, where improper input validation enables attackers to inject malicious SQL payloads. Blind SQL injection techniques allow threat actors to infer database contents by observing application responses, even when direct error messages are suppressed. This attack vector requires authenticated access, meaning attackers must first obtain valid credentials or exploit another vulnerability to gain a foothold.

Key technical aspects of the flaw include:

• Affected Version: dotCMS 25.07.02-1
• Attack Vector: Authenticated blind SQL injection
• Exploit Availability: Proof-of-concept (PoC) code published on Exploit-DB (ID 52431)
• Impact: Unauthorized database access, potential data theft, or system compromise

Impact Analysis

Organizations running dotCMS 25.07.02-1 face significant risks if this vulnerability remains unpatched. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to:

• Extract sensitive data, including user credentials, customer information, or proprietary content
• Manipulate database records, leading to content defacement or unauthorized modifications
• Escalate privileges within the CMS, potentially gaining administrative control

Given the availability of a public PoC exploit, security teams should assume active scanning and exploitation attempts by threat actors.

Recommendations

To mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability, security professionals should:

1. Immediately upgrade to the latest stable version of dotCMS if available, or apply vendor-supplied patches.
2. Restrict CMS access to trusted networks and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative accounts.
3. Monitor database activity for unusual query patterns or unauthorized access attempts.
4. Review authentication logs for signs of brute-force attacks or credential misuse.
5. Isolate vulnerable instances from public-facing networks until patches are applied.

For organizations unable to patch immediately, implementing a web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection rules may provide temporary protection against exploitation attempts.

Security teams are advised to monitor official dotCMS communications for updates and prioritize remediation efforts to prevent potential breaches.