Overview
A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Pharmacy Sales and Inventory System version 1.0, assigned CVE-2026-6189 with a CVSS score of 7.3 (HIGH). The vulnerability resides in the /ajax.php file's login action handler, where insufficient input validation of the Username parameter enables attackers to inject malicious SQL commands remotely.
This vulnerability poses significant risks to healthcare organizations and pharmacy operations utilizing this system, as successful exploitation could lead to complete database compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive patient information, and potential manipulation of pharmaceutical inventory records.
Technical details
The vulnerability stems from improper input sanitization in the login authentication process. When processing login requests, the application directly incorporates user-supplied input from the Username field into SQL queries without adequate validation or parameterization.
The vulnerable code path exists in /ajax.php when the action parameter is set to 'login'. The application constructs SQL queries using string concatenation, creating the following attack surface:
SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '[USER_INPUT]' AND password = '[PASSWORD]'
Attackers can manipulate the Username parameter to break out of the intended query structure and execute arbitrary SQL commands. The vulnerability allows for both authentication bypass and data extraction techniques, depending on the attacker's objectives.
Since the system operates across multiple platforms and the vulnerability is accessible via HTTP requests, the attack surface is considerable. The public disclosure of exploit details significantly increases the risk of widespread exploitation.
Attack vector and exploitation
Exploitation requires no authentication and can be performed remotely via HTTP requests to the vulnerable endpoint. Attackers typically follow this attack pattern:
Step 1: Target identification through reconnaissance of pharmacy management systems running SourceCodester software.
Step 2: Craft malicious payloads targeting the Username parameter in login requests to /ajax.php?action=login.
Step 3: Execute SQL injection attacks using techniques such as UNION-based queries, Boolean-based blind injection, or time-based blind injection.
Common exploitation scenarios include:
Authentication bypass: Using payloads like admin'-- or ' OR '1'='1 to circumvent login controls.
Data extraction: Employing UNION SELECT statements to retrieve sensitive information from database tables containing patient records, medication inventories, and user credentials.
Database enumeration: Gathering schema information to map the complete database structure for comprehensive data theft.
Affected systems
The vulnerability affects all installations of SourceCodester Pharmacy Sales and Inventory System version 1.0 across all supported platforms. This includes:
Web-based deployments on Windows, Linux, and macOS servers running PHP and MySQL/MariaDB configurations.
Cloud-hosted instances deployed on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and other cloud infrastructure providers.
Local network installations within healthcare facilities, independent pharmacies, and pharmacy chains.
Organizations particularly at risk include small to medium-sized pharmacies that may lack dedicated security teams to implement proper monitoring and patch management procedures. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that system administrators across diverse environments must take immediate action.
Detection and indicators of compromise
Security teams should monitor for the following indicators to detect potential exploitation attempts:
Web server logs: Unusual POST requests to /ajax.php with action=login containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION keywords, or comment sequences (-- or /**/).
Database activity: Abnormal query patterns including SELECT statements with UNION clauses originating from the web application user, unexpected database schema enumeration queries, or queries targeting system tables.
Authentication anomalies: Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful authentication without valid credentials, or login attempts with unusually long username parameters.
Network traffic: HTTP requests containing encoded SQL payloads or responses with database error messages indicating SQL syntax issues.
Implementing comprehensive logging for both web application requests and database queries will significantly improve detection capabilities for this vulnerability.
Remediation
Immediate remediation steps include:
Input validation: Implement strict input sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly the Username field in login requests.
Parameterized queries: Replace all dynamic SQL construction with prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks.
Least privilege: Configure database connections to use accounts with minimal necessary permissions, preventing attackers from accessing sensitive tables even if SQL injection occurs.
Web application firewall: Deploy WAF rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoint.
System updates: Contact SourceCodester for security patches or consider migrating to alternative pharmacy management solutions with better security practices.
Access controls: Implement network-level restrictions to limit access to the application from untrusted networks.
CypherByte assessment
CypherByte rates this vulnerability as HIGH RISK requiring immediate attention. The combination of remote exploitability, public exploit availability, and potential impact on sensitive healthcare data creates a critical security situation.
The vulnerability's impact on healthcare organizations is particularly concerning given regulatory requirements such as HIPAA in the United States and similar data protection regulations globally. A successful attack could result in significant compliance violations and associated financial penalties.
We recommend treating this vulnerability as a security emergency and implementing compensating controls immediately if patches are unavailable. Organizations using this software should prioritize migration to more secure alternatives given the fundamental security design flaws evident in the application architecture.