Open ISES Tickets Hardcoded MySQL Credentials Vulnerability (CVE-2026-48241)

Open ISES Tickets before version 3.44.2 is vulnerable to exposure of sensitive information via hardcoded credentials (CVE-2026-48241). The vulnerability exists in the loader.php file, a public-facing database utility where MySQL database credentials are hardcoded and committed to the source repository. An attacker with access to the public source tree (e.g., via public GitHub repository) or an unauthenticated attacker with read access to the file on a deployed installation can read the username, password, and database name. These credentials could be used to connect to the MySQL database if it is reachable from the attacker’s network, leading to potential data breaches or other unauthorized activities. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 3.44.2.

Attack Chain

1. Attacker gains access to the Open ISES Tickets source code repository or a deployed installation.
2. Attacker locates the loader.php file.
3. Attacker reads the loader.php file.
4. Attacker extracts the hardcoded MySQL database username, password, and database name from the file.
5. Attacker uses the extracted credentials to attempt a connection to the MySQL database server.
6. If the database server is reachable from the attacker’s network, the connection is established.
7. Attacker performs unauthorized actions on the database, such as data exfiltration, modification, or deletion.

Impact

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to gain unauthorized access to the MySQL database used by Open ISES Tickets installations. This can lead to a full compromise of the data stored within the database, potentially including sensitive user information, ticket details, and other confidential data. The impact includes potential data breaches, financial loss due to regulatory fines, and reputational damage to the affected organization. The vulnerability affects all deployments of Open ISES Tickets prior to version 3.44.2.

Recommendation

• Upgrade Open ISES Tickets to version 3.44.2 or later to remediate CVE-2026-48241.
• Implement the Sigma rule Detect Open ISES Tickets loader.php Access to detect unauthorized access to the vulnerable file.
• Monitor network connections to the MySQL database server and alert on connections from unexpected or unauthorized IP addresses.
• Review access controls to the Open ISES Tickets source code repository and deployed installations to ensure only authorized personnel have access.