CVE-2025-14179
Description
A flaw was found in PHP. The PDO Firebird driver improperly handles NUL bytes when preparing SQL queries. During token-by-token query construction, a string token containing a NUL byte is copied via strncat(), which stops at the NUL byte, dropping the closing quote and causing subsequent SQL tokens to be interpreted as part of the string. This flaw allows SQL injection when attacker-controlled values are quoted via PDO::quote() and embedded in SQL statements.
Statement
This issue can be exploited in applications using the PDO Firebird driver. The application must construct dynamic queries using PDO::quote() and the query structure must contain subsequent string boundaries or parameters. This allows an attacker to inject a malicious payload, resulting in the execution of arbitrary database commands. Additionally, the use of PDO::quote() for manual concatenation is heavily discouraged and considered a legacy anti-pattern. Modern PHP applications use native prepared statements ($stmt->execute()) that are not vulnerable to this issue, limiting its exposure. Due to these reasons, this vulnerability has been rated with an important severity.
Mitigation
To mitigate this issue, do not use 'PDO::quote()' for manual query concatenation. Refactor the application to use native parameterized prepared statements. Additionally, implement an input validation mechanism to reject any user-supplied data containing control characters, specifically the NUL byte (\x00).
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 8.1 | 9.8 | 8.1 |
| Attack Vector | Network | Network | Network |
| Attack Complexity | High | Low | High |
| Privileges Required | None | None | None |
| User Interaction | None | None | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High | High | High |
| Integrity Impact | High | High | High |
| Availability Impact | High | High | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Red Hat CVSS v3 Score Explanation
See the 'Statement' section for an explanation of the difference between the CVSS from Red Hat and NVD, specifically why the attack complexity metric is set to high.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Confidentiality,Integrity,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
Adversaries could execute system commands, typically by changing the SQL statement to redirect output to a file that can then be executed.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Application Data
Since SQL databases generally hold sensitive data, loss of confidentiality is a frequent problem with SQL injection vulnerabilities.
Authentication
Technical Impact: Gain Privileges or Assume Identity; Bypass Protection Mechanism
If poor SQL commands are used to check user names and passwords or perform other kinds of authentication, it may be possible to connect to the product as another user with no previous knowledge of the password.
Access Control
Technical Impact: Bypass Protection Mechanism
If authorization information is held in a SQL database, it may be possible to change this information through the successful exploitation of a SQL injection vulnerability.
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Application Data
Just as it may be possible to read sensitive information, it is also possible to modify or even delete this information with a SQL injection attack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure what something means? Check out our Security Glossary.
Want to get errata notifications? Sign up here.
